St Combs walk

Today Grey Granite and Rufus joined Betty and Jack, the roan Cocker Spaniel,  for a memorable wild flower walk on the dunes near St Combs. This was new territory for Grey Granite who really enjoyed seeing the wide range of wildflowers growing on the dunes. Highlights were a vast area of marsh orchids and cuckoo flowers, a magnificent bed of yellow flag irises, patches of  brilliant blue germander speedwell and a small patch of wild thyme, (Thymus praecox) just starting to flower. Grey Granite was particularly pleased to find this, although Welch describes it as locally common, Grey Granite cannot recall finding it in the North East. There were several herons, both on the shore and flying over the wetlands. Both Betty and Grey Granite were pleased to see a pair of lapwings flying over the reed bed. Rufus enjoyed Jack's company but Jack may have been less pleased by Rufus wanting to play at every opportunity. The beach, a wide sweep of clean firm sand was an excellent place for the dogs, totally deserted and totally unspoilt with less debris than the beaches at Rosehearty and Fraserburgh.