There are two areas that I regularly see wild goats – the Ardnamurchan peninsular and the A87 between Inverinate and Glen Shiel. Mostly they are either glimpsed briefly as they graze at the side of the road or they are the cause of me having to come to a stand still as them casually amble across the busy main road to Skye. However, when time permits, it is always good to stop awhile and observe them feeding and though they may not be as glamorous as many other of Scotland’s mammals they are nonetheless fascinating to study.
This one has clearly had one or two battles to contend with as the left horn is broken off but seems to be enjoying the fresh bracken that is rapidly springing up with the warmer weather.
It almost looks as if there is a stray boomerang embedded in its head.
A quick check to ensure I am not encroaching over our agreed boundary. Whilst I remained the other side of the ditch they were quite content to graze and not move further up the hillside.
Ignoring the advice to alway eat your greens this one seems more interested in stripping off some more bark from the birch trees.
The goats often show great agility on the rock as they effortlessly move across the ground but this one was showing excellent balance and deftness as it reached for the tastier leaves on relatively young ash shoots.
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