Seashore

Overnight, the wind swung 180º into the southeast so we didn't have a frost last night, but the morning forecast was for the weather to hold for a only few more hours before deteriorating into rain and cold.  So we took the opportunity to walk along the seashore below the house for an hour or so.

The first thrift is, at last, showing signs of coming into flower, but most of the plants, particularly those more exposed to the wind, still have tightly folded buds.

Thrift seems to relish flirting with the waves, growing in places which must, at the height of any storm, be inundated.  Amid the rock outcrops just above the storm line, however, other plants survive, like this sea campion....

....while, on the sheltered banks tucked into the cliffs at the back of the shore, primroses are thriving.

We're like small children when it comes to rock pools, searching them for something new and for old friends.  This is the first sea urchin we've found this year, pretty in its cerise and lime green colours.

It's interesting that the common sea anemones sport similar colours but in different shades.

Small groups of gannets, both adults and last year's juveniles, have been diving in the Sound for a couple of weeks.

Having wandered along the shore and sat on the point called Sron Bheag, we climbed the steep grassy bank to the road where, high above us, a sea eagle passed, carrying.... well, it might be a lamb.