The ancient coast track which runs from Golspie village northwards towards Dunrobin Castle and thence to John-o'-Groats crosses the Golspie Burn by a substantial footbridge from which we've often watched a pair of dippers. No more. Sadly, we haven't seen any sign of them for well over a year.
Once across the bridge on this morning's walk I disturbed a large mixed flock of gulls, crows and rock doves all feeding in the harvested barley field. It was a beautiful morning, the sky almost cloudless, with not a breath of wind so....
....the sea hardly moved, just the occasional dark wave, leftover from the recent winds, lifting lazily to slop out onto the beach.
This bird, I think a pipit, was making good use of one of the many wooden structures which are testament to past human activity along this section of coast. It, with two hooded crows, decided to join....
....a cormorant which was drying its wings in the sunshine.
This was one of a pair of oystercatchers feeding along the seaweed line, along with a small flock of redshanks. The flock of curlews we saw a few days ago was still there, but feeding in the barley field.
Three song thrushes were singing from treetops between the bridge and the castle, with others feeding on ground still white from the overnight frost. Only one of the three singers had developed a full range of those beautiful, repeated calls, the other two being much less full-throated. The one calling properly was easy to spot, high on a tree by the burn. Perhaps because of their lack of confidence, the other two, one of which was in a tree right by the castle....
....weren't in sight.
That cottage at the Golspie Burn is an architectual gem; I'm sorry to put the castle's nose out of joint.
ReplyDeleteNo-one has lived in it in the time we've been here. It just stands empty.....
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