#35: Reflections from the shore

Nairn beach, 0852, minutes after high tide, 3.6 metres today. The Wagtail seems intrigued by me this morning. Circuling the bench and landing on the grass just 6 foot away. Eyeballing me as he cocks his head. I wonder if he knows it is me again?  The Oystercatchers are also close by, five of them not catching Oysters but getting their long beaks dirty prodding for worms in the damp grass on the links. Windless, bright and sunny today, with ripples out on the firth suggesting the lightest of breezes beyond the shore. Patches of calm water look like boat contrails, sweeping in arcs across the bay. Little energy in the waves now as they sneak up onto the beach unnoticed by the frolicking dogs.  A different swimmer today, fully wetsuited, crawling in the calm conditions, ice cream face. A different world beneath the surface just a cold breathe away.

#34: Reflections from the shore

Nairn beach, 0853, an hour and a half after high tide. The fisherman is already on his way back, his headlights and dark silhouette looking like cats eyes on the flat grey firth. A cold water swimmer, David probably, slowly breastroking away the day. A paddle boarder heading West into where the water is silvery blue, a satsuma orange hint in the foreshore still left over from the ever later sunrises. A large honking skein of geese go over head. Threads of wool wiggling in the sky, the final skein in perfect V formation. The pied wagtail closer today, close enough to see the pale yellow of his face. No waves today the firth shimmering like crinkled tin foil. Snow now on Ben Wyvis, but still not cold yet in Nairn. More geese, and yet more geese. Something deeply satisfying and habitual about migratory geese in such times of uncertainty and change.

#33: Reflections from the shore

Nairn Beach, 0854. An hour or so after low tide the green clad rocks exposed on the beach, with their endlessly fascinating rockpools waiting to be explored. The end of the groyne visible next to a large, still wet from the falling tide, expanse of sand. A dull reflective glow on the wet beach. Shipping forecast says gales today, except in Biscay. A southwesterly means we only have drizzle so far in Nairn this morning.  Out on the firth some of the giant industry of the oil rigs hovers on the horizon, transporting tall metalwork legs aboard a boat which looks like an old four masted pirate ship as it merges with the mist. An Oystercatcher pipes as it hurriedly flies past, close to my bench. A red beak flashing against it's black and white stripes. Amid the clouds across the firth a near vertical rainbow emerges from the dark clouds over Cromarty, hinting at sunken treasure out at sea. Strikingly bright colours of nature set against the dark skies. Rainbows of hope. 

#32: Reflections from the shore

Nairn beach, 0915. Rising tide, not high until 1243. Lots of new sand deposited up the beach. Pebbles moved into mini stone crescents by the fullness of recent tides. The swell rushing South Eastward, gulls effortlessly gliding at speed toward the harbour. The waves by the groyne today very semi-circular, like a Spanish flamenco fan, their edges lit up towards the East beach. The lighthouse and the old bar beyond. A flock of Knots wheel and dance together, maybe 30 birds, twisting and turning together in the sun by the harbour wall. A dozen Oystercatchers chatting to each other as they head inland over the trees on the links.  All the leaves of the links now dropped, lifeless brown with dark spots, tumbling along in the breeze. Like the pebbles eventually gathering together in their windless pockets, knee deep in places. Just one boat on the water this morning, faded in the light and mist toward the Black isle. 

#31: Reflections from the shore

Nairn beach, 8:57. A rising tide, with still over an hour to go the water level is already where it was this time yesterday, high up the beach. Tide tables say the height will be 4.3 metres but no waves are crashing against the prom today. The Firth gently moves, reminding me of Farrow & Ball grey, much like the sky.  Just two boats out on the water, parked outside the entrance to Cromarty firth across the way.  Beyond the boats a patch of blue sky above the Black isle. Quiet. Even the gulls are quiet this morning.  I think I will sit for a while. Pied wagtail bouncing close by my bench, joyous little thing.

#30: Reflections from the shore

Nairn beach, 0858. High tide. Two rowing skiffs out bobbing on the swell heading gently East. Julian strolling into the sea in just his shorts, embracing the 9 degree sea and starting his slow front crawl along the beach, headed west.  The distant piping of the Oystercatcher in between the lapping waves high up on the shingle, the groyne two thirds submerged. The lobster pot fisherman is out replacing the creels, no doubt. Low clouds cling to the top of the Soutars with a glint of sun on Cromarty across the firth. Dogs excitedly greet each other on the slither of beach. Owners do the same.