Aren't Oystercatchers Fantastic?

I bet they don't just eat oysters, though.

Saw some nice ones poking about near the waves' edge today, the tide was on its way out. Was surprised to see that they are almost as big as the seagulls nearby.

We were at a beach just east of the Southerness lighthouse (the second oldest in Scotland, apparently). A nice quiet beach, especially at this time of year! Lovely views over to the lake district, when it's clear (fells were snowy, what we could see of them under the cloud)

The beach has has no signposts to it, you have to know it's here (in the summer it's packed with locals). It's one of those beaches with loads of shells, white cockles and blue mussels and those little pink ones that look like fingernails. They are found here because of the large rocky outcrops - I suppose that's why the oystercatchers love it.

Was very surprised to see 5 ducks walking along the beach too.