Grey Granite and Rufus made the most of the glorious morning following yesterday's gale by walking over the Wastart, reaching the Point of Ironhill. The Pouk Burn was flowing fast after the heavy rain which fell in the area yesterday and Rufus enjoyed paddling in the main channel before attempting to catch the small cloud of small blue butterflies flitting about over the boggy area. There was a flock of curlews plaintively calling as they circled round the Pouk and Silver Gwyte . Grey Granite thought this an autumnal sound.
It was a very hot morning and Grey Granite and Rufus enjoyed the cooler breeze on the high cliff tops between the Pinkie Shore (above) and the Point of Ironhill (Below) There was a large raft of gulls on the water, but no sign of the dolphins this often indicates and which we have yet to spot this year.
At the Point Grey Granite was again pleased to find a black guillemot, this time swimming in the Lady's Basin and showing off his red wellies. Grey Granite has a great affection for the small colony of these birds which has inhabited this patch of sea for several years. She admires their smart dense plumage, their vivid scarlet legs and their air of complete self containment when swimming off shore. She often wonders what attracts the birds to this particular place, they are almost always here, but are infrequent else where along the Wastart. On each of two recent visits only one bird has been seen, in previous years Grey Granite has counted as many as five. This is a little concerning given the general decline in all the auks in recent years.
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