Wednesday was a day of travel. Not an early start, we didn't leave until 10.20, arriving in Berwick upon Tweed at 4.40. An uneventful journey, most of it in bright sunshine, gradually clouding over as we drove north.
Thursday
A very late start.... Pam was very tired after a short night and a long day yesterday so had a lie-in. Most unusual.
Berwick is very near the Scottish border. I'd requested a stop to photograph the sign and Saltire for the first time ever. We missed it - and there's no turning back.
Soon after the border , we turn off for St Abbs, a fishing village perched on a rocky shore. The road down is narrow, steep and winding, ending in the harbour and a parking area for both boats and cars.
A few boats at moorings, rather more amongst the stacks of crab pots and other sea detritus in the parking area.
We parked at the far end of the concrete pad to view the sea breaking on the rocks - a favourite pastime of mine -
and the auk colonies on the distant cliff face.
We parked at the far end of the concrete pad to view the sea breaking on the rocks - a favourite pastime of mine -
and the auk colonies on the distant cliff face.
We could identify a few Guillemots on the sea, one Shag and nesting Fulmars. The ever present Gannets glided by much further out.
We always drive down to Cove. I often wonder why.........
Eleven men from Cove lost their lives in the great East Coast Fishing Disaster of 1881, and there is a memorial at the top of the cliffs.
A pile of soil prevented viewing it from the front and a digger was perched on top of the pile. A man came along and moved the digger so that the back was visible !
Torness Atomic Power Station, its grey and white Lego cubes a blot on the horizon, heralds the turn off to Skaterraw Bay. A favourite breakfast stop where we can follow another winding lane down to a bay with parking area and a wooded gully which migrants find attractive. Several cars more than usual gave little parking choice. Luckily, we swerved away from one where the door was open, the engine running and, its near area full of scattered bread. The woman who eventually appeared, dressed in a high vis jacket, cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth, bucket in hand, never stopped talking in a very loud voice. As she strode off towards the sea, her driver drove off promising to return later. The car engine had been running for the whole of their stay. Off to collect Mussells was our best bet. Phew.
Eider ducks loafing on the sea, a Wheatear on the shore below, two Redshanks and more passing Gannets. And brunch.
The sea was so far out at Aberlady that even my scope was almost redundant. We did manage a few winter plumaged Black-tailed Godwits, more Redshank and what I'm pretty sure was a Wood Sandpiper. It was playing hide and seek amongst the stones.
Longniddry Bents No 3 parking area had even more piled up earth barriers between the parking area and the sea than we'd suffered last year. Pam found a place where I could scope over the top when I found a half dozen Red-breasted Merganser amonst the Eider.
Herring Gulls, handsome in their breeding finest, mar their image by scavenging everywhere, especially near the fast food places in motorway cafes. I took this photograph at North Berwick before a lively little boy chased everything off.
A visit to view the distant Bass Rock is a must. White with both hordes of nesting Gannets and years of guano, it looms out of the far mist, a constant procession of birds coming and going. Strangely this is not apparent in photographs. Not mine, taken from North Berwich anyway. I can see one flying bird.
Navigating Edinburgh is always a chore. We usually use the bypass but decided to let our SatNav decide the route. It was much shorter BUT through the city. Not easy driving with so many roadworks, instructions from the SatNav, rain and traffic with which to contend. At least the rain washed off the red Sahara dust which covered the car overnight.
Navigating Edinburgh is always a chore. We usually use the bypass but decided to let our SatNav decide the route. It was much shorter BUT through the city. Not easy driving with so many roadworks, instructions from the SatNav, rain and traffic with which to contend. At least the rain washed off the red Sahara dust which covered the car overnight.
Loch Leven RSPB is only a few miles from Kinross Travelodge, we paid a short visit. In the rain. Siskin, Greenfinch and Robin in the car park. Tufted Duck, Coot, one Wigeon, Shoveller and Greylag on nearby pools. Scintillating.
The Travelodge has a nearby garage and shops which include an M and S and a Greggs.That was supper sorted.
The forecast does not look promising for to-morrow.
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