Gulls dodging the waves

I'm not usually a fan of seagulls but I think I will have to get this printed to see what it looks like larger. The great sunset on Sunday was one of those you only get in January where the water turns a rich golden colour. It looks viscous like waves made in golden syrup. The seagulls were doing their best to avoid the breaking waves which giving up their turgid shoreward journey suddenly burst out sending the birds into the air. The strange thing was having lifted from the sea they perfectly echoed the wave with those that rose first setting down first, with the others following with perfect synchronicity.

Windy weather!

Esmé enjoyed the wind with a little encouragement. If you look above the trees on the golf course picture you can see an iridescent cloud.

Bird count update

These figures represent the highest at any one time today.

4 blackbirds (down from10)

4 Fieldfares (down from 12)

16 Goldfinches (possibly more up from 13)

8 Chaffinches (up from 4)

6 House Sparrows ( up from 4)

4 Blue Tits (no change)

1 Pigeon (no change)

1 Dove (no change)

4 Greenfinches (up from 2

4 Bramblings (First visit)

There has been a significant change over the last week and the thaw today has seen the departure of many of the Fieldfares and blackbirds. However, we spotted some bramblings today a first for our garden. The new small hole feeder with thistle seed is now being heavily used by the goldfinches. While the chaffinches are collecting the fallen seed below. No Waxwings this year.

We just need a feeder nearer the house now to take a decent picture.

Ice on the riverTay

Brrrrrr on riverside just after sunset today. There was no wind and I was frozen within about 10 minutes. I had the gloves that I have worn on plenty of snow capped summits and my fingers were getting numb by the time I got back to the car.

Last Sunday of the holidays :(

I am back at work tomorrow Gwen and Esmé don't go back until Wednesday. I will miss them. It is hard when you get used to life with each other all day and then it comes to an abrupt end.

Great weather though for the last day, blue sky, crisp snow and you could see large breakers out in the estuary. The sea actually looked fairly calm but it was impacting against the coastal defences with a sudden ferocity. It caught me off guard a couple of times and but for a quick jump I would have been soaked.

The seed heads I noticed last week and thought they looked interesting. The sun was in just the right place to provide a silhouette of there structure.

Garden bird count

- 1 cat = lots more birds (Although Oscar is sadly missed)

max at one time.

10 blackbirds (1 black and white)

12 Fieldfares (only1 in previous years)

13 Goldfinches

4 Chaffinches

4 House Sparrows

4 Blue Tits

1 Pigeon

1 Dove

2 Greenfinches

Starlings numerous