Snowscapes

Under a clear sky and with, mercifully, no wind, last night's temperatures dropped to a new low, although when compared to other places in the Highlands, where they dipped well below -20C, our minimum of -7.9C seems positively balmy.

As a result, the snow is as extensive as yesterday yet it remains pleasantly powdery underfoot and, even where it has been compacted, not too slippery. So we walked gently along the coast following the ancient track northwards, enjoying the stillness, the silence and some....

....stunning views. Although the air temperature was still hovering around zero the sun was warm on our faces, and doubly warm where it was also reflecting off the mirror sea.

As if not to be outdone the wildlife came out to perform for us, with....

....stonechats, robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and various pipits on display and....

....snowdrops shouldering aside the snow to show themselves off.

Along the shoreline we spotted this juvenile black-headed gull, redshanks, oystercatchers, curlews, mallard and....

....three goldeneyes diving amongst a small flotilla of gulls.

Although not visible, there was plenty of evidence of wildlife on land, with innumerable deer and rabbit tracks in both open and wooded areas. However, not all was perfect picture-postcard, for....

....this young roe deer had obviously been caught and killed by someone's dog. It must already have been weakened, perhaps by the cold and lack of food, because normally it sshould have escaped easily.