Taking flight . . .

Just a dusting of snow on the hills of Orphir.  I've done nothing with the colours here, the sea really is like this today!

There are tens of thousands of Greylag geese overwintering in Orkney and they are a bit of a scourge and pest for the farmers.  Not only do they eat all the winter grass, but pull it up roots and all, and all that is left is a slimy muddy field, covered in goose poo (great for rolling in if you are a dog!).

There have been lots of schemes for scaring them and controlling their numbers including shooting them, with licensed butchers allowed to sell the meat, generally as burgers or for stewing.