Golspie Beach

The slow cycle of the tides has come around so that the low at 8.30 this morning should have allowed us on to the beach for the first time in several days but, just as we left home, a heavy cloud moved over us and we walked the first ten minutes in sleet driven by a chill breeze. Happily, the sun came out to reveal an accessible beach populated by a single human, her dog....

....and a small flock of oystercatchers which only reluctantly....

....took to the air as we approached.

In some ways it's good, in this crowded world, to have a whole beach to ones-self, in others it's sad to find it so deserted, and so lacking in wildlife that a single sea gooseberry washed up by the waves attracts our interest.

The only other shore bird we saw was a redshank beside the harbour wall while, offshore, a flock of half-a-dozen long-tailed ducks shared the still waters with....

....a seal.

There are moments when I cannot help but stop and, looking out across an empty sea to an empty horizon, recall beaches that were vibrant, warm and alive, beaches where I would love, once more, to be - but then I remind myself how very, very fortunate I am.