Scotland Part 1

 When we arrived in Scotland we went on a few outings during our visit. Here are a few things we saw!

European robin

This robin is a juvenile one. The robin weight is 5-8 ounces and a wingspan of 8-9 inches. The robin is also called European robin, English Robin, Robinet or Ruddock. Its scientific name is Erithacus rubecula. This robin was very friendly and let my brother talk and feed him!

House fly

There are more than 120,000 species of flies worldwide and this one is the house fly. A female house fly can lay 600 eggs in her life. Their lifespan is 15 to 30 days.

Lesser black-backed Gull

The lesser black-backed gull measures 51–64 cm, 124–150 cm across the wings and weighs 452–1,100g.

Treecreeper

The treecreeper is small, very active, bird that lives in trees.I saw this one near loch Lomond, hoping around on an oak tree. It has a long, slender, downcurved bill. It is speckly brown above and mainly white below.

Balloch castle

Balloch Castle is an early 19th-century country house and is at the southern tip of Loch Lomond. Balloch was a property of the Lennox family from the 11th century, and the old castle was built in the 13th century. In the 19th century the estate was purchased by John Buchanan of Ardoch, who demolished the ruins of the old castle and erected the present building. In 1915 Balloch was bought by Glasgow City Corporation, and has been leased by West Dunbartonshire Council since 1975. The estate was designated as a country park in 1980, and since 2002 has been part of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Although the house has been used for visitor facilities and council offices, it is now included on the Buildings at Risk Register.