Porpoises

Chanonry Point is always a popular spot to visit from Pottery House, and most people get to see the bottle nosed dolphins.

However there have been reports in the local paper that porpoises have been spotted in the Moray Firth this year, for the first time for many years.

We must have a trip out to the Black Isle one afternoon.

Black Tulips

The last of the spring flowers are out in the garden at Pottery House. The most stunning of which is the Black tulips.

Spring FLowers II

These primula denticulata we grew from seed during our first full spring at Pottery House. They are looking amazing this year. We've started some more off from seeds this year.

Spring FLowers

It's been a beautiful few days here in the Highlands, today was especially sunny and warm.

The spring flowers are looking fabulous.

These double daffodills have been in the garden since we moved here. We love them, will have to look out for more bulbs in the autumn.

Greenhouse Full

Our greenhouse is full to bursting at the moment, we've even had to put in some temporary shelves on top of the staging to take all the seed trays.

Dipper On Loch Ness

As I walked into the village this morning I saw an unusual looking birb sat on a rock in the waters of Loch Ness.

Been trawling through the bird book and found it was a dipper.

We've seen these birds in other places in the Highlands, but never here before.

Pottery House - Sat Nav Points of Interest Files

We believe we're the first B&B in the UK to offer this service.

We now have POI files, (Points of interest files) that you can download into your Sat Nav before your stay with us.

Not only does this give you the correct location of Pottery House (as our post code is a little misleading on SatNavs) but also loads of places to visit during your stay and places to eat out.

Our POI files also includes proximity alerts (similar to the warnings for speed cameras) so that as you drive around the area your Sat Nav will tell you about thinks to look out for and points of interest.

http://www.potteryhouse.co.uk/directions/directions_satnav_poi.htm

First Daffodill of Spring

Despite a light covering of snow here this morning, and some strong and chilly winds over the last couple of days, the first daffodill of spring is this morning starting to open.

And here it is:

As well as the full sized daffodills, the minature daffs are also starting to open.

Start of the gardening season.

As a keen gardener I love this time of year when seeds are sown for the summer flowers and are starting to germinate.

The earliest seeds were sown in the greenhouse at Pottery House about 10 days ago and already they are starting to show.

These are yellow marigolds.

Signs Of Spring

The signs of Spring are starting to show at Loch Ness and in the Highlands.

The snow drops are at their best in the garden at Pottery House, and the crocus and mini daffodils are starting to bud.

RSPB: Big Garden Birdwatch 2008

We took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch again last weekend.

Here are our results.

Common birds

Blackbird 2
Blue tit 6
Chaffinch 3
Coal tit 3
Dunnock 1
Feral pigeon 2
Goldfinch 1
Great tit 8
Greenfinch 1
Long-tailed tit 13
Robin 3
Wren 1

Scarcer birds

Great spotted woodpecker 2
Pheasant 3
Siskin 3