Sunday, February 28, 2016
Another bright sunny day with no wind, although the temperature was just a couple of degrees above freezing. There was a small patch of pancake(ish) ice on the bend of the Ullapool River; apparently the presence of foam can help to cause these formations.
After the dizzying multitude of waders at Udale Bay yesterday, the local spit was always going to be a bit thin. But curlews and oystercatchers were present as ever, and I snapped this turnstone - one of several that had just been bathing - while two ringed plovers shared a secret.
Patches of snow still lay on the camp-site, where a rock pipit was foraging.
Two black guillemots with very different plumages were diving in Loch Broom.
This morning at 5 o'clockish I got up to go to the loo, and heard two tawny owls hooting; one seemed really close, but I couldn't see anything. It doesn't help that there are two very sharp orange street lights out there - which also hamper any stargazing (although I have to admit it's usually too cold to stand outside long at night). But I wonder why they're on all night; most people in Ullapool seem to be in bed by 10 o'clock, so it's just a waste of electricity.
// posted by Christine @ 9:38 AM 
