In Southend Village

13.1C sunny and bright with a few fluffy white clouds. Light Westerly breeze.

Grocery shopping over by mid morning.

We went the ten miles or so South to Southend then followed the road round past Dunaverty beach to Carskey Bay where we had a walk with Maeve the Deerhound from one end of the beach to the other and back. The Antrim coast of Northern Ireland was very clear today. The sea was very calm and very blue. Maeve was off her lead on the beach and was very happy to wander about. Still no sign of her going in for a paddle although she goes right down to the edge of the sea and walks along occasionally dodging up the beach to avoid the water as it runs up the sand.

On the way back I parked the car at Keil cemetery so we could get out and watch the seals on the rocks. We had been watching them for a few minutes when the youngest of the seals raised its head and looked round. I followed the direction of its gaze and saw there was an otter swimming along just offshore. It moved quickly along just a yard or two into the sea, its head rarely out above the surface although we could clearly see the body and the tail. We watched it cover about 50 yards then it dived under the surface and didn't come back into view. Completely made my day !

We had a quick stop in Southend village to get this shot for Derelict Sunday. In the fields opposite the houses and the village store (and very good cafe we hear although we haven't yet tried it) is this old church.

DMC-LX7 f/2.8 1/2000 sec. ISO-80 12mm (35mm focal length 71mm)

Note: Extra from Carskey Bay