The path less travelled

A run into Durrus to post a parcel and I picked up a young man (Irish, now living in Paris) who was on a meandering route to Inis Oirr to attend a drystone walling course. We covered just about every subject in the 10 minute journey.
On my way home I stopped to walk around the headland at the ever optimistically named Sunny Cove. I met a man looking for dolphins who regaled me with stories of his having seen hundreds here in December, accompanied by diving gannets. No dolphins today but the flora and birdlife was impressive.  There were clouds of goldfinches on the seedheads, meadow pipits, reed warblers, an egret, shags, a greenshank (thank you Merlin)  and most thrilling of all, the startling turquoise flash of a kingfisher.
Summer fading now, the flowers seeding, the blackberries rotting,  the sloes extra fat, the lichen bright yellow and the seaweeds orange  (and oddly, white). The wind has dropped. It felt pleasantly soporific and carefree.