A Patch of Sweet Violets

Just above the beach at the foot of the Massney Braes in Lundin Links growing amongst the leaf-litter and tangled vegetation there is a patch of the palest pink almost white sweet violets (Viola odorata). They are the first violets of the spring.

Pheasant Feather

The distinctive colours and pattern of a male pheasant tail feather that I found lying on the road between Upper Largo and Lundin Links.

Late March in the Serpentine Walk

Groups of daffodils line the path in the Serpentine Walk in Largo.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is coming into flower. The flowers come out just before the leaves. With hawthorn it's the other way round the leaves first, then the flowers.

Here and there the first celandines are beginning to appear. As we walked along the path could here the buzz of a bumblebee and a small tortoiseshell butterfly flitted past.
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Gabions and Coastal Erosion

At the foot of the Massney Braes in Lundin Links close to the swings There are some wire cages filled with stones (gabions - from Italian gabbione meaning big cage). These are being used to protect the bank from erosion. Gabions work by providing a strong support for otherwise weak areas of earth. Loose soil fills the spaces between the rocks and collects in front of the gabion, preventing more soil from being washed away.

Unfortunately slightly to the west of the gabions there has been a further small landslip.

In Lower Largo, east of the last house at the Temple, there are two other sites where there has been considerable erosion.

At one point a further layer of rock has been exposed at the top of the beach.

No Way Through

Sad to see that as a result of the damage done by the winter storms there is now a barrier across Lower Largo Pier. This is the second attempt as a previous metal barrier soon ended up in pieces over the side of the pier. Perhaps this one will be more resistant to the wind and tide!

A photo from the last time that I was able to stand at the end of the pier. Can see the extensive damage. It was a great place to take photos of the village, the bay, and the birds on the rocks opposite. It would be nice to see the pier restored once more.

Spring Bulbs in the Massney Braes

Most of the snowdrops on the banks of the Massney Braes are almost over, but there were a few patches still flowering yesterday.

There are now numerous clumps of daffodils brightening up the braes. It was a windy day and they were 'fluttering and dancing in the breeze.'

A few bright blue patches of chinodoxa caught my eye,

A Weathered Sycamore Seed



Clearing up leaves in the garden, came across this weathered sycamore seed wing. Can see the skeletal structure of the wing.