A week at the beach.

This was Tuesday on a Puffin Cruise from McDuff. The trip was organised by the Natural History group, puffing round the coast from the little harbour at McDuff round Troophead. Those less seaworthy than us walked on the RSPB reserve at Troop Head and waved to us as we idlly sat looking for puffins.
Yes, we saw puffins, rediculous little birds flapping wildly in amongst the graceful swoops of the gulls, kittiwakes, skuas, fulmars (ugly brutes, cormorants...I may have missed some. They all looked like seagulls when in flight but the nesting habits of the gannets and kittiwakes made them easy to spot. The walkers also saw a peregrine!
Ralph and I sat on the beach at Cullen which is lovely little town further west while I ate my sandwiches and we watched children SWIMMING in the NORTH SEA! They are hardier than me, although the air temperature was hot, the sea is never ever warm. Little wet suits help though and are a great idea. I love to swim outdoors and have been in the Spey in March, so maybe I could aclimatize.
We were on the beach on Sunday after a visit to Nairn Allotments Open Day and the sun combined with the wind to make it a day of contrasts...wild waves and sky blue sky (!)
I was in Nairn again yesterday on the beach eating ice cream with my "grrrls", mum, Frances and her 3 nearly teenage twins and eldest 15 year old. We walked to the tower at Culbin Forest with Moss, one happy dog. What does she love more than the company of 3 adoring girls.
(Maybe the bone from the last piece of our road kill venison...)