Oystercatchers at Shell Bay

Christmas Day walk to Shell Bay. Slightly misty but fairly mild. There was a large group of oystercatchers standing at the east end of the bay. We tried not to disturb them but as we approached they all took off.

Long-tailed Duck

A male long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) swimming off the pier at Lower Largo. This is the first time that I had seen this duck but it is quite unmistakable with its black and white colouring and long pointed tail which is 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long . The bill is dark grey crossed by a deep pink band.

The long-tailed duck in the foreground with a black-headed gull above.

Long-tailed duck, two black-headed gulls and on the rocks opposite the pier oyster-catchers and two herring gulls.

A Gulp of Cormorants

There are quite often a few cormorants sitting on the rocks opposite Lower largo Pier, but yesterday there were a lot more than usual. I looked up the collective noun for cormorants and found two - a flight (but these weren't in flight) and a gulp which I rather liked..

Some of the cormorants were in the water suddenly diving out of sight.

At the other end of the rocky outcrop one cormorant spreading its wings also some gulls and oystercatchers.

Oystercatchers at the End of the Pier

At high tide this afternoon, oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) resting on the crumbling pier at Lower Largo. They were mostly all facing the same direction and many were sleeping.

At the back of the group of oystercatchers there were also few a black-headed gulls, a curlew with its long curved beak and a sleeping eider duck.  

Christmas Day Walk at Shell Bay

Looking towards Largo Law with a cloud cap.
After so much rain Christmas Day showed a marked improvement in the weather, so set off for a morning walk at Shell Bay, before coming home to wrestle with the turkey. Parked in the Fife Coastal Path car park just before the entrance to the caravan park and walked through the woods to the side of the Cocklemill Burn and then followed the path to the beach.

Passed World War II tank traps which are now covered with moss and lichen.

Oystercatchers were on the rocks below

The tide was in so couldn't walk out to Ruddon's Point but had to keep to the top of the beach.

With the stormy weather there was a lot of wood washed on to the beach including this serpent-like branch.

Lichen covered rocks.
At least three species of lichen growing on these rocks. I think that the yellow patches are yellow splash lichen - Xanthoria parietina and that the pale green tufted lichen is sea ivory -Ramelina silquosa.

The sun just beginning to light up the beach.

Looking towards Kincraig Point.

Looking towards Ruddon's Point.

A Sandy Refuge for Waders

At high tide these waders had gathered on a small sandy strip on the beach at Lundin Links.

They were mostly oystercatchers , but there were some other species which I didn't manage to identify, however, a curlew was obvious from its unmistakeably shaped bill.

A Sparkling Day

A very frosty morning, but once the sun was up, a beautiful day on the beach.

Oystercatchers working the tide-line.

I saw three swans......

The sun goes down over the Forth on the eve of a lovely day.

Largo Bay Waders

Curlew, large wader with that amazing bill.

Redshank at the edge of the water.

Oystercatcher

A group of dunlin with an oystercatcher and a redshank far right. (Click on photos to see larger images)

Oystercatchers, redshanks, curlew, and dunlin are four of the waders that one is most likely to see on any winter walk along the shore in Largo Bay and these photos were all taken on my walk yesterday. The Fugi 1000 fd camera that I got for Christmas has a 12x optical zoom so it's easier to obtain resonable photos of the birds from further away. The black and white oystercatchers are numerous and probably the easiest to spot. The curlew is large and the curved down-turned bill is unmistakeable. The redshank is the sentinel of the beach and flies away with a warning cry when disturbed. The dunlin gather together in large groups and at high tide often huddle on a piece of exposed rock.

Oystercatchers

Oystercatcher

Oystercatchers on the rocks

Oystercatchers at the shoreline. Seconds after this picture was taken they all took off.

A Walk Round Lower Largo

Yesterday (Sunday) was the first really sunny morning that we had had since Christmas, so armed with my new camera, I walked down to the harbour at Lower Largo. The tide was coming in, so I then walked through the village, and then along the old railway path towards Ely and then back along the beach, until I had to once more go up to the path because of the rising tide.

This photo shows the pier at Lower Largo, the bridge across the Keil burn and the old railway viaduct in the background. (The railway line was closed in the 1960s)

This bronze statue of Robinson Crusoe is in the Main Street in the village. Alexander Selkirk was born in Lower Largo. It was his real life adventures that inpired Daniel Defoe to write his famous book.

View looking back along the beach towards the Temple area of Lower Largo, so called because it was thought to be linked to the Knight's Templars.

Another view looking back to the village.

View looking down on to the harbour and the Crusoe hotel

Lower Largo has a thriving sailing club, and there are often small yachts in the bay. The faint outline of Berwick Law can be seen through the mist on the opposite side of the Forth.

Not a great photo, but the scarlet legs of the redshank can be clearly seen. It tends to be the first bird to react as one approaches, with it's warning cry, it's said to be the sentinel of the beach.

Turnstones along the shoreline, searching for food.

Oystercatchers can be seen not only on the beach, but in the fields above.

Not many flowers in bloom in January, but the gorse adds a bit of brightness.

Ivy covers some of the fences along the old railway track. Its yellow-green flowers bloom late and are a good source of nectar for wildlife, and its dense foliage provides shelter.

Again along the old railway track, teasel heads blow in the breeze. Birds particularly goldfinches feed on the seeds.