Another fabulous day…

With the weather set fair for sunshine and warm temperatures, the island is our oyster, so to speak.  An early start as we have to get down to Castlebay for Peter’s doctor’s appointment.  Apparently this cough is going through the island like wildfire and the charming doctor has given Peter a codeine based syrup which should help.

Co-op next for some necessary salad items (you have to get in early for these) and off we go to Vatersay to park on the grass above the rocky cove to see what we can see.  I am ridiculously tired and have a half hour snooze, which does me a lot of good.

Father Shelduck is asleep on the sand and only exerts some energy when seeing off a poor Mallard who must have been showing some vague interest in Mother Shelduck who we haven’t seen for days and are certain is on a nest somewhere.

The Sandpiper is still around and mixes happily with the Ringed Plover and the Dunlins.

Apart from the odd Turnstone, the rest are gulls of various sorts and, after some research, we think that this is possibly an Iceland Gull.

Driving round to the other side of the island, we pass some contented looking cows and remarkable shades of blue…

Picnic anyone?

As usual, we drive around the Atlantic coast for the first part, where there are some gorgeous sandy coves, including this one…

This strange orange plant grows on the sand there.  We can’t identify it at present – any ideas?

Further around on the grassy sand dunes, this cow appears to be the officer in charge of the troops – a call to arms!

Further round and at the airport, a private plane has landed on the beach.  It is necessary to publish the day before’s blog post so, of course, it is also necessary to have something nice to eat.  Home-made apple pie and espresso and walnut cake anyone?

Then it’s down to the old jetty and we manage to park in the best place possible where we can get the chairs out on the grass, overlooking the sea.

I do some painting…

… and Peter spends his time following the activities of what looks like a male Arctic Tern feeding his wife!  We don’t think this is a baby because it’s a bit early for that but males often feed their partners as a sort of love token.  It’s sweet, whatever it is and Peter manages to get some lovely photos.

The baby Lapwing is growing fast.  Only one in view so hope the second one is ok.

`Looking forward to another sunny day tomorrow…