A new beach!

Evening! (or if the temperamental internet connection wasn't playing ball.....Morning! We've had a lovely day today - since we knew we'd be staying on the western side of the island this year we've been promising ourselves that so long as the weather was kind to us, we'd walk to the beach that's just half a mile or so away just as soon as we got the chance - and today was just that chance!  In the past of course we've had the option of nice walks across the moorland and up hills, but we've never actually had the beach within walking distance before.

We woke this morning to glorious weather - sunshine and bright blue skies - and knew pretty much right away that was what we were going to do - it's pretty easy - you come out of the gate (making sure to close the gate behind you, or there's a distinct possibility that you'll end up with a garden full of sheep), then turn left again along the first track you come to...

...then half a mile or so ahead you see the dunes, and just over those there is this...

Pretty good, eh?! Before that though the track itself is interesting enough - the wildflowers are just starting to come out properly, like these gorgeous Marsh Marigolds...

...Stunning eh? Birds too of course, we saw Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Meadow Pipits and Lapwings a-plenty. Several Corn Buntings too - lovely to see those as always - I believe they are still on the RSPB's red list as seriously at risk - up here though they're...if not plentiful, then in good numbers.

Also a rather lovely 1st year Wheatear - as full adults these birds are boldly marked with a streak of slate-grey along the flank, and a bright white rump - the younger birds though are far more softly marked...

Once on the beach there were more birds -mostly waders, from the larger Oystercatchers to the tiny sanderling - just coming into their summer (breeding) plumage and so pretty! Mostly you end up "herding" them along the beach as you walk - they run along ahead of you, normally just too far away to get decent photos! This one was more intent on taking a rest though...

Shells too - we wander along as a rule keeping our eyes open for pretty or unusual shells -this is why the front cup-holders on my car are full of such things of course. This time MrEH came back with about 7 of these...

...You can't really see there but they're quite big - a good 5cm from end to end - those will NOT be returning south with us, we'll leave them here at the house where we're staying for the next people to enjoy. Before you say it too there were still plenty left on the beach for others to enjoy!


Some of the patterns left in the sand here are amazing - you'd think that this...

...was actually a piece of seaweed on the sand, but no, it's just the patterning left behind as the tide has gone out and the water seeps out of the sand.

Tomorrow I think we're heading south - down to South Uist and possibly a favourite walk or two down there - there may even be a hill involved - we'll see!

Robyn