My view over Clatteringshaws Loch used on BBC Website

Good to see another one of my pictures used on the BBC South Scotland News page. This time it's of Clatteringshaws Loch taken from the slopes of Benniguinea hill:

I've been Shortlisted for the Just Cause 3 Trailer Competition!

I am both surprised and flattered to have been shortlisted in the top 21 of the Just Cause 3 Trailer competition (https://mytrailer.justcause.com/).

The competition involved creating a trailer for the new video game using whatever resources you wanted, but they provided you with some gameplay footage and a licensed music track. You could use as much or as little of the video and music provided to compete in 3 categories: Best Use of Audio, Best Action and Best Humour. As a music composer, I went for writing my own score to a video I put together from the supplied gameplay footage, aiming for the Best Use of Audio category.

With thousands of international entries I am chuffed to have been selected and it's great to get this recognition for my music.

It is a shame however, that certain individuals who failed to make the shortlist felt the need to publically write hateful vindictive comments under my video entry on YouTube. It saddens me that there are people out there who enjoy upsetting people like me (I was not the only one targetted) who have put a lot of work into their entries. As a result I was forced to disable comments on my video. If you do like my video, please feel free to click the 'thumbs up' underneath it to show your support. Thanks.

Here is my entry:

You can view the rest of the excellent finalists here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLX4thG13UY4X-1DDaoC40sJ1Ro-PhGSB
Show them some love too!

My Photo of Powillimount on BBC Website

Thanks again to BBC South Scotland for using one of my images on their website - this time a shot of Powillimount beach:

Southwick Burn Cinemagraphs

Lots of water coming down the burn today!

Interesting behaviour of Feathered Thorns

This November there seemed to be a mass hatching of hundreds of Feathered Thorn moths about but this wasn't the most interesting thing I discovered.
Upon releasing a Feathered Thorn I had caught the night before, I noticed that the moth flew straight up into the air and then flew into a large mature beech tree and then suddenly fell in a tumbling motion that mimicked a falling autumn leaf all the way to the ground amongst the already fallen leaves. I only wish I had filmed it now!
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this before but it must be some kind of predator avoidance behaviour! It's amazing what you learn about nature when you look closely.

Feathered Thorn on my finger!