Clamming Up

Prayers were answered and today was a bit of a better day. Up reasonably early for a kedgeree breakfast, before heading along to the Aberlady Bay reserve for a couple of hours. It's a really nice spot, and even on a quiet wildlife day generally gives something worth spending some time with. This time of year it's probably the large number of Fieldfares. Mind you, Mel was all for the beachcombing, and came home laden with scallop, spoot and clam shells. And a conch.

And there's something really nice about being all wrapped up from the cold, sitting on a large bit of driftwood, drinking form a hot flask of tea. It's nice to have places that feel a bit distant and cut-off within such easy reach of the city.

Most annoying spot of the day was actually a Merlin. It flew over the road in front of the car, landing on a wall alongside. By the time I'd turned and gone back to check it was gone (and some pigeons 100 yards away were being scattered to the four winds, so safe to assume it headed in that direction). Still not got one in front of the lens...

There remained buying a wee Christmas tree, a bit of chicken-time, and I'm now contemplating heading to the shops to get a few ingredients I need to make some (gluten free) millionaire's shortbread.

And who knows, tomorrow I might finally know if I have a job continuing after the end of the year - our postponed drumming performance is tomorrow night, so I might have to take out any frustrations on the drums...

Pink-Footed Goose V
Sanderling dodging the waves
White-Fronted Geese
Fieldfare Leap
Teal Pair