Shelduck stramash

Quarrelling shelducks in Tyninghame Bay, East Lothian. I rode through the John Muir Country Park this morning on the way to Presmennan. I had been talking to a friend about the sand martins which nest in the banks by the bay and stopped to try to photograph them. Whilst I was trying (and failing) with the martins, I noticed a group of shelducks. I walked slowly towards them as they fought for a bit, stopped for a dabble, had a stretch, and got back to the quarrelling. Now and again one duck would face off to another, standing up to full height, then lower its head and chase the other away. But nothing came of it, they settled down again right away. It reminded me of cricket.

Aside from that discord, it was a thoroughly nice day which ended with a barbecue in the woods with the children. Gordon announced he would give me 50p after I managed a running repair on our bike trailer to get us home. Very generous, I'd best not spend it all at once.

Malcolm and Duncan borrowed my camera with and took a few great shots. A mixture of mine and theirs on Flickr.