Sole survivor

Bright day, perfect for a trip out. Of course the weekend is for buying meat, so off we went to a newly discovered but nearby farm that has a bit of everything (Elvingston). Bought some very fine looking beef and a goose that was supposed to be 3k but has turned out to be nearly 5k (if anyone fancies joining us for lunch tomorrow that would be grand - otherwise we're going to have a lot to go around between 6 - including Conor the proto-veggie, so 5 really).

Lovely farm, lovely farmer who happily showed us round the whole place and introduced us to all the animals. Funniest moment: seeing the geese mobbing the trainee sheepdog. Almost messiest moment: playing in with the teenage pigs.

Next off to Aberlady Bay to try out Katherine's Christmas telescope on the birds there. All going well until the loudest children in the world decided to run over and chase all the birds away. Was the large telescope on the tripod and the camera with the big lens not a clue to shut up and go away? I spotted the kids coming and snapped this last remaining curlew quickly before it flew off with all the others to the quiet side of the estuary. Katherine was quite happy looking at ducks and seagulls, so not too much harm done. I suppose what I need really is a better telephoto so I don't have to get so close....

Anyway, this is enlarged in a quite extreme way so it's clear it's not a sparrow. Hence the grainy/fuzzy-ness.

Alternative shot of a lovely derelict steading opposite the farm here.