Into the Sun

In contrast to the brisk pace of yesterday's walk we took a much more gentle one this morning, wandering along the coast to the north, no hurry, just a chance to soak up the warmth of glorious sunshine even though, in the shadows, last night's ground frost still lingered.

We noticed several things which we haven't seen for months, like gulls congregating to feed on bait fish offshore - though the gannets were missing from this feast.

Some of the waders are beginning to pair up, oystercatchers and ringed plovers (above) along the shoreline, bringing back memories of searching, very carefully, for their nests last summer and the sadness when so many, for all their efforts, were either destroyed or abandoned.

There were other memories brought to mind. Just to the right of this log is the single dried stalk of an orchid, a peculiarly lone orchid we found right by the sea - see a post from last June here - when the remains of most orchids have long ago been destroyed. It would be so good if, when we come here again in June, there were several orchids in bloom.

Then, as we climbed the hill past St Andrew's churchyard, we saw the first crocuses of the year.