Sandhaven Shorebirds

The receding tide in  Sandhaven Harbour exposes banks of seaweed which are a favourite roost for gulls. This morning we noted busy oyster catchers scurrying in the weed - in contrast with the  placidity of the assorted gulls, almost all standing facing into the wind. They included herring gulls  (pale pink legs), yellow legged common gulls and black headed gulls (bright red legs) which now have their winter plumage - thus no black heads. There were a few eiders pottering in the shallows and beyond them in deeper water a pair of seals appeared to keep a curious eye on events on shore.

Beyond the harbour there was a big swell, ridden by rafts of eiders. The rocks between Sandhaven and Pittulie are favourite resting points for cormorants and shags. 

November

A weekend of frosts and blue skies bringing  the constant overhead clamour of geese and swans and the smell of wood or peat smoke as one passes houses. The first real frost of the season iced over the puddles, renewing Rufus' fascination with breaking the ice and sliding about on puddles. 

Frost crystals icing willowherb leaves.

The resident starling population has now been boosted by winter migrants from the continent, behind  Phingask and Sandhaven in particular, they congregate on noisily on telegraph wires, shape shift as they move down to pick over seaweed on the shore and retreat to their evening roosts at the boatyard.

Sunshine on almost leafless sycamores at Peathill

An unexpected splash of colour on these nasturtiums growing in the frost free shelter of a shed at Merryhillock