Northernlights

A bit of drizzle here but very strong gusty wind Currently 14c Dust blowing on farm tracks at first this morning A few reports both from my area and south of Aberdeen of farmers sowing wheat or lifting tatties all night as the wind continued to dry up the ground.

According to young Mr Northernlights the Angus and Aberdeenshire machinery rings were messaging on social media last night for every tractor/combine and operator who was available today to come forward to rescue the last of the cereal and tattie harvest as with this wind ground conditions were improving. My old college friend just south of Aberdeen is into his last tattie field with extra help yesterday and should finish today barring break downs. He also has a team hard behind the tattie lifter cultivating ground and sowing wheat. Seems the wind will be our feature already gusting very strongly. Young Mr Northernlights has a job today rolling in winter beans behind a sower.

Going to be an interesting few days coming up Local forecast has us dry and windy to Saturday afternoon while less than a 100 miles away torrential rain is expected. An extreme example of the rain shadow effect of the Cairngorms Some rain is forecast overnight Saturday to Sunday. In fact today newly dug areas of garden have a dusty surface.

Fine start here at at 5c although cloudy above but very clear to the North Cliffs at Dunbeath plus Morven Ben More Sutherland Morven Caithness plus cliffs at Dunbeath and looking north

Heavy snow shower over Cairngorms at sunset Very wintry looking sunset over Firth

Temperature falling all day with wintry looking showers round the Firth. Finished cutting beech hedge this afternoon really pleased as it's a hard job. Currently breezy and showery and 4c so snow must be falling on mountains.

Had just seen the above posts photos. Have to say a much fresher day with a maximum of 11c mostly broken cloud with fresh to strong NW wind making it feel colder.

17c very windy and moderate drizzly rain a lovely afternoon. Not helping to dry out ground tattie guys will be a bit grumpy.

Fine sunset about 5.45pm with good visibility to the north across the Firth.

Blue sky and sunshine has just moved in from the NW in the last hour. Currently 11c so a bit warmer too

Can confirm by visual observation that both the Nairn and Findhorn rivers are rising rapidly in the early evening so if this rain carries on all day tomorrow then breached banks seem inevitable We are lucky that we live at the top of a hill but no fieldwork for a few days after this. Taking in 10 of the cows nearest to calving last weekend although a bit of a hassle at the time seems time well spent now.. one calved 2 days ago. Currently very wet and 6c

Started out at 6c this morning with moderate rain from 6.00pm yesterday so very wet all morning Eased a bit in the last 20 minutes but temperature still the same true autumn weather.All outside cattle getting best bales of silage made in summer.

Just east of Elgin and NW of Inverness most farmers are getting too much rain especially this last fortnight. Old college pal in Aberdeenshire needs a dry week to finish lifting 80 acres of seed tatties and finishing sowing winter wheat. As I have often said to him if we could just combine his soil in the Howe of the Mearns and our climate we would be laughing. But instead he has a poorer climate and we have poorer soils

In contrast on South Side of Moray Firth field drains have only run for odd days these past few years .Only yesterday I was digging up dust in garden preparing a new strawberry patch . All growth from garden to fields has been hampered by lack of rainfall this last summer.

Very wet afternoon here but not cold. Calf born this afternoon inside . Will probably be in till Sunday if Saturdays forecast is accurate

Fine day here too. Took in a bunch of expectant cows to be under camera as darker nights take over. Been busy calving cows this last week and still cleaning/greasing machines and putting them away for winter. Up to 18c earlier massive grass growth as well in the fields.

Showery day cool maximum of 14c now 8c . Very dark all day more like November. Nice male calf born in field up and drinking off cow

Very wet overnight. River Findhorn high this morning. No fieldwork here today. Time all taken up these last few days with huge heifer calf born by caesarian cow milked by hand for two days calf bottle fed, cow grumpy making it a dangerous job. Long legged calf bent in womb finding it difficult to stand improved every day to point where it was chasing me for the bottle last night. Finally could stand long enough to put on cow restrained in crush this morning and then caught on camera drinking naturally off cow in fold. YES!!!!!!! A lot of work to get it to that stage and patience

Mostly overcast day has turned to steady rain in the last half hour with temperature rising to give a very humid feel.

3c here this morning Busy day yesterday weeding garden and watching a cow calve having twins ready to help if necessary but she managed herself.1

Real autumn evening here wild wet and windy and currently 10c

3,5c here at 6.00am with patches of ground frost but bright sunny start although high cloud building to west.

Heard the first geese going over yesterday. 8c start today change of wind direction and I am seeing skeins of geese going over in their hundreds. Svalbard heading below freezing this week will be pushing them south

Very wet overnight and still raining but down to 11c just bliss First calf of autumn born yesterday so another cycle started. A clearance just to the west so it should be an improving day soon.

Stiil very humid but not so hot at 21c. Seems we will get some heavy rain later today as had no more than a shower overnight. Delaying stacking small bales till we get the cooldown.