On the Moor again

I revisited Easter Crannich again earlyish this morning, in theory before it was too hot to walk comfortably over Dava Moor. The main shows what was probably the steading. Lying in the grass close by are the rusted remains of a mysterious farm implement - the wheels show some resemblance to the Tattie lifters in the Dulnain Bridge implement display.
The deserted moor was hauntingly beautiful in the morning light. The crumbling croft houses, peat banks and the traces of old tracks spoke of a time when it was populated by more than sheep and wildlife. There is, however, an alarming number of grouse butts.

Walking up to the ruins we saw a single grouse a pair lapwings and heard a distant but distinct cuckoo calling. Amongst the Heather were the white flags of bog cotton, milk wort, ('blue as summer skies ') petty whin, lousewort, cuckoo flower, violets, hearts ease pansies, and tormentil. In wetter places by the many ditches and pools were Marsh marigolds. The lizard which had crossed the sandy path yesterday failed to reappear today.