Coos and Birds on the beach
Saturday, 31st August 2024 was actually a warm and sunny day in Assynt. That sentence can also be a historic reminder of how bad the summer of 2024 was!
We all enjoy a bit of fun by the sea on these days. As you can see some of the local cattle had decided to wander down to Clashnessie beach for a bit of RnR.
Too good a photo opportunity to miss of course. To add to the opportunities, we also had a Pied Wagtail wandering through the cattle looking for food. Because the cattle attract flies and also disturb other insects it was worth the wagtail’s time and the risk to catch some relatively easy snacks. It’s not every day we get coos and birds on the beach.
The size difference is immense though.
Also, on the beach but not interacting with the cattle were eight juvenile Sanderling. They were happy picking about in the sand also in the search for food.
These small waders will have arrived from Iceland in the past day or two. They were now taking a break to rest and refuel before heading on to their wintering grounds further south in the UK or Europe. This article ‘A Tale of Two Birdies‘ on our website from 2013 has more information about the migration of Sanderlings.
We have probably told you this ‘pub quiz’ answer before but it deserves repeating. The Sanderling is unique in that it does not have a hind toe. Other waders have a small toe projecting from the back of their lower leg, not the Sanderling.
Why? Sanderlings are generally very active feeders running up and down the shore as the waves roll in and out. Lots of food is available at the edge of the wave so the Sanderling can be first on the scene as it were. The lack of a hind toe gives it that slight edge in the speed department.
Never a dull day at the beach.
David Haines