Global Warming?
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Global Warming?

 
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HighlandNick
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Location: Highlands, Scotland

PostPosted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:02 pm    Post subject: Global Warming? Reply with quote

I find this really hard to believe; I have never seen this before...

Ticks in Northern Scotland in November!

Caching last Saturday (8th Nov) in the northwest around Loch Assynt, Achmelvich and Clach Toll, The Black Isler picked up a tick.

And if that wasn't bad enough, two of the six caches we went for were DNF's!

Is this a record? (the ticks that is, not the DNF's!!)
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Drumin
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Joined: 05 Jan 2008
Posts: 36
Location: Moray

PostPosted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nope, I have a friend who is a Keeper who tells me he has seen them active on deer in January, but only in recent years, never before.

In 25 years working (and longer playing) outdoors I have never had as many ticks as in the past five years and I that is even with getting more desk bound!
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HighlandNick
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Location: Highlands, Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We also discovered a Peacock butterfly in our garden this autumn. This was one of the first recorded sightings of this butterfly in this area on the Black Isle.

Apparently, before 2000, these particular butterflies had only been recorded in about 30% of Scotland. However, they are now reckoned to have spread to over 50% of the country.
Their distribution is a very visible indicator of climate change.
Milder autumns mean that nectar is more readily available, so the butterfly can store energy for hibernation. Milder winters mean less chance of freezing to death in poorly protected hibernation spots.
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Drumin
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did not know they were that far north, very surprising.

I saw my first peacock in the English Midlands in 1987. It was about 2004, I think, when I saw my first one in Moray.

Global warming indeed!
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allieballie
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Location: Fife

PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Global Warming? Reply with quote

HighlandNick wrote:
I find this really hard to believe; I have never seen this before...

Ticks in Northern Scotland in November!



Oh no! I have been saving a number of caches down here for colder months when I thought the ticks would be gone. Numerous logs for these caches mention the prevalance of ticks at them and cheetah boy is particularly susceptible to them.

If these buggers are now going to be around 12 months a year are there any tips for things we can do to lessen the chances of them hitching a ride on us? Smearing gaitors with Vicks ointment? Eating Ready Brek to develop a "glow" around us that might act as a force field?
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Drumin
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Location: Moray

PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.bada-uk.org/defence/toptentips.php

Or you could always go caching in one of those cute white suits that the Police forensic squad wear!

Laughing
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Haggis Hunter
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found a black spiky hairy caterpillar on heather whilst climbing Carnethy Hill today. I've never seen a caterpillar at this time of year before.
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Tooey
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Joined: 24 Sep 2006
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Location: Strathspey

PostPosted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw a daisy in flower on the lawn this morning.

Last week I spent a day on the Invercauld Estate, a CNPA Education day on estate management. In the afternoon we were driven by Landrover to the start of Jock's Road where we were met by one of the keepers who showed us a variety of traps that they use for controlling vermin. The question of ticks was brought up and he was saying that the problem is getting worse and is little understood.

I can be in full mountain gear, several layers, long socks, boots, gaiters, the works and I still manage to come home with ticks Rolling Eyes
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dunk090
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Joined: 01 Aug 2007
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

(...a tongue firmly in cheek response...)

It's ok, the recent increase in pirate activity off the coast of Somalia will lead to a halt in Global Warming Cool Cool
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Wildlifewriter
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dunk090 wrote:
(...a tongue firmly in cheek response...)

It's ok, the recent increase in pirate activity off the coast of Somalia will lead to a halt in Global Warming Cool Cool


On the other hand, it may prolong the financial crisis since Sheikh Rattle-an-roll may not now be able to lend 167 trillion Euros to Barclays Bank, as originally agreed... Smile


-Wlw
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HighlandNick
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Joined: 30 Aug 2005
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Location: Highlands, Scotland

PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ticks (and leeches) were covered in more detail this week on the BBC One Show.
Probably still available on iPlayer.
(BTW anyone worked out how to record the iPlayer stream on the PC???)
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coolCal
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Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 379
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There has been a swarm of midges hovering around in our back garden for the past few weeks, we have to dodge them as we come down the path from the street! Next it'll be malaria-carrying mosquitos.......
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