The wind is firmly back in the south west and the weather has improved for people – warmer and dryer – but it has taken the edge of the autumn. The sea was flat calm today with little passing except sandwich and common terns. A real contrast to last week. At Balcomie Beach there were so few waves that the incoming tide just pushed the seaweed up the beach like a broom, resulting in a dam that kept the sea at bay. I felt like a Dutchman walking along the beach behind the seaweed, a meter below sea level. Four dunlin and two ringed plover made use of the dam for a roost, but there was little else on the beach. At Fife Ness there are still fairly ragged looking, moulting golden plover roosting on the rocks at high tide. You suddenly notice a head popping up and realise that there are quite a few there, perfectly camouflaged.

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