We walked the slippery pavements of Golspie to reach its south beach this morning, to find that Storm Arwen had removed most of its sand, leaving us with an algal-slippery concrete ramp and several metres of equally slithery rocks to negotiate to reach the beach, something we weren't prepared to risk, so we....
....walked along the top of the sea defences, straying at times onto the deserted golf course before finally reaching the second point where it's possible to....
....access what's left of the sandy beach. With the exception of one man walking his dog, we had it to ourselves, the only shore life being....
....a few scattered oystercatchers.
However, we were provided with some entertainment when we spotted two female long-tailed ducks offshore which were later joined by....
....several of the now very smartly attired males who set about courting them with concentrated vigour. This romancing consists of almost constant pursuit - the female is on the left - accompanied by flapping of wings, splashing, synchronised diving and, when the female takes off....
....a mad scramble to catch up with her.
Some, obviously, had given up, and one presumes that this is the idea, that the female ends up with one, very exhausted, suitor.
As we walked home the snow was beginning at last to thaw, and we are forecast rather warmer weather for the next couple of days, before the thermometer plunges again next weekend.
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