redshank tringa totanus

It was nice to get close to one for once.

The closest I've been to a Redshank for years.

Perhaps a provocative title considering how small the Redshanks are in the picture but on the other hand it wouldn't be much good without them. I love ruins and the old pier at Craigendoran is a favourite.

On an evening birding session this Redshank landed gracefully on a pole very close to the hide. This is a full frame capture.

Off on a dream trip to the island of Gotska Sandn for a few days tomorrow. Back late on Friday.

Coming in to land on the mud, a very still day with barely a ripple on the water.

A few intense days in Helensburgh with my 89-year-old dad to ferry me to the few sites I couldn't reach on foot. He sat in the car and read a book while I trudged about. I thought it might be boring after Lesvos but in actually it wasn't at all. And the weather was quite good too. :-)

It's not so easy when the water is so deep.