Gang Culture and Deprivation

Riotous behaviour on Blacka this morning where the midges were ganging up on us to an alarming degree. We could have been forewarned if we had known which social network they subscribe to. Having a low tolerance of this kind of unacceptable behaviour we made for the top of Thistle Hill where a bit of breeze was enough to bring relief. On our way there we had observed unusual activity among the sheep who could have been getting ready for some copy-cat action.



Almost lemming-like they were moving around en masse in well disciplined formation; yet nobody around nor sign of of what might have aroused this. I suspect that this is a symptom of stress. And the one thing that I’m aware of that could cause it is water deprivation. Recent rain here has been slight and will have made next to no impact.



The nearest spring was dry though with evidence that sheep have been around there a lot. The water tank had just an inch in the bottom with dead flies floating on the surface. The one sheep that tried as I watched put her head over the side and then withdrew quickly. It’s doubtful that any sheep would have been able to reach that far down, however desperate.

Still, it's not common to see riot police on Blacka.