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Hello and thank you very much for downloading the Scotland Outdoors podcast, brought

you by BBC Radio Scotland.

I'm Mark Stephen coming to today from my garden in rural Aberdeenshire, where to be honest,

it looks like it's going to rain any minute.

It's overcast today.

It's a bit on the breezy side, but the swallows are still absolutely sweeping about the place, having a grand time.

With me as ever, slightly further to the north, Mr Ewan McElwraith.

The rain's actually started here, but it has been one of those stunning days in Scotland when the wind comes from the north

it's a wee bit cool but there's not a cloud

in the sky and the swallows

as you say are sweeping

around the courtyard here

you may occasionally hear my pet hen

which has arrived and taken a real liking

to me has been pecking my leg for the last

three minutes.

Hopefully it won't interrupt too much.

...