Scotland

 Friday May 2

The Scottish  border  is only about five minutes away from Berwick. The  Saltire was proudly flying below another blue sky. No photos today, we missed the lay-by. 

We discovered St Abbs Head only a few years ago, it's been a favourite since. We can park near the water's edge looking across at the, admittedly distant, nesting cliffs of mainly Guillemots and a few Razorbills. 

 

 The sea below held groups of loafing, washing, diving, birds. Shags occasionally flew in and I saw one Black Guillemot.

Our next stop is always Cove, a small gathering of cottages on the cliff edge, looking down on a rocky cliff and coast,

Cove is a picturesque village situated 18 miles northwest of the Scottish border with England. Famously Cove was home to “The Glasgow Boys” artists’ colony between 1883-1888 due to its unique beauty. This informal group comprised several influential painters of the time including Sir James Guthrie. Cove harbour is entered by a 180ft/55m tunnel, not seen from the village. It dates from the 1750’s and once contained cellars which were used to store fresh salmon and herring, as well as cured and barrelled white fish. Cove village and harbour has a long fishing history and due to its hidden nature, and tunnels ideally suited to storing contraband, it has often been associated with smuggling. Used as a landing place since at least the 17th century, the present harbour dates from 1831 and was built by the Hall family of Dunglass to facilitate the transport of coal mined inland.

 No  birds around, the tide was at is lowest, we only stayed long enough for Pam to take a photo of the small statue at the cliff path entry,

Skatteraw is a perennial favourite, a few dwellings at the start of a road leading down to a bay and car park north of the power station of the same name. The latter is a dirty concrete square, grim and forbidding, not today in the sunshine. Skatteraw Bay is a migrant hot-spot and, unfortunately, like many others, a favourite with dog walkers. The parking area is backed by a small deciduous wood.

Tor the first time in many years there were no Tree Sparrows near the houses. Nor were there any waders in the large sandy/rocky bay where the water was a distant sparkle, We did see a few Gannets passing by, Eiders on a pool. a male Stonechat entertained in a small bush and a Meadow Pipit behaved like a Tree Pipit  - that kept us going for a while. 

Plenty of black flies around.

Bass Rock (pronounced Base Rock by the satnav), is a magnet. We discovered a new viewpoint today, brazenly driving through a very splendid beach-side camping site. It sounds very like the place where the Griffins spent the night recently.

 Far fewer bare bits than last year, the effects of bird flu are slowly receding.

 Longniddry  Links car park no, 3 is sea-side. Despite the still very distant water, my scope could pick out our first Sandwich Terns, sitting on a sandbank.

Then. the long traffic-heavy drag around Edinburgh, the variable traffic speed signs an easy pitfall for the unwary. Eventually we arrived at RSPB Loch Leven where we pick up easy trip ticks such as Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Shoveller and Coot. Sand Martins buzzed the water, Tufted Ducks were the overall number winners. A very pleasant way to end the day before a night at Kinross Travelodge.

Also pleasing (Hm) has been the number of insect remains on the car windscreen. This used to be a given, it is now unusual enough to mention.