What can I bring you, love ?

This must be the weirdest breeding place for oyster catchers ever, we're not at an estuary, the nearest fresh water is some miles away, sea water even much further, but this pair is nesting right in the middle of the Glenmor housing estate on the Gleneagles hotel grounds. The nest (if that's even a nest and not just a hole in the ground) is on the pebble stones at the back of one of the houses (opposite our house) The picture is not as sharp as I'd want, had to be taken from above from our house. Every time somebody gets near (for one thing our car park place is only two metres away from the nesting mother) she walks off the eggs, but comes back as soon as possible. I don't want to upset her more than already happens, so don't dare to go much nearer. To see the other oystercatcher this morning with her was an extra, wonder if it is the dad! In which case he might have asked what to bring her :-)

I had lunch with Isla and Elizabeth in Perth this afternoon. Always nice to catch up, both Open University friends, but time is taking its toll on Elizabeth's health. Very sad to see her decline, dementia is such an awful disease.

And today is my youngest sister's 50th birthday, how is that possible ?