Friday, March 21, 2025
Two days ago, the most interesting animal I could find during a short walk on the beach was this dead one - known variously as lesser spotted dogfish, small spotted cat shark, and rough hound. Some people hyphenate small and spotted as though it's the spots that are small - but I reckon the small refers to the shark itself. I think the tiny dark creature crawling over it is a kind of springtail (Anurida maritima); I first saw these in a rockpool at Rhue (blog post September 26th, 2014).
Yesterday, we drove south for a walk at Loch Glascarnoch - and collected the magnificent total of two pied wagtails and a raven. We pulled into the car park at the end of Loch Droma so that I could check for toads - and yes, they were here again (March 30th last year). I counted 50 individuals but there were many more.
Greger stayed in the car and read the paper. He is not a man for frogs and toads - although he doesn't mind newts. From the car as we drank coffee I spotted a male stonechat on a distant fence - and two buzzards flew over.
This morning, I had my second shingles jab. Later, I drove to West Terrace and walked round the spit. I'm glad I did, because there was a white-winger on the golf-course spit. Given the size of the gull (and its bill) I would say this was a glaucous gull - probably first winter.
A flock of ringed plovers flew in, and I thought I saw something dark with them. I failed to spot it again against the dark weedy rocks, but snapped hopefully into the crowd and managed to catch a purple sandpiper (top right). A pale plover (bottom left) seemed to be of a size and structure with the ringed plovers so I'll have to give up any ideas of a Kentish and suppose it's just a ringed that's late getting adult/summer plumage.
By this time I was beginning to feel distinctly unwell. My arm ached, my head ached, and I was creeping all over as though I was getting 'flu. These are known side effects for the shingles jab according to the info the nurse gave me. No doubt by tomorrow I'll feel okay again - I hope the glaucous sticks around!
