CURLEW

The sea was very calm today and lots of birds were just resting quietly on the beaches, mostly with their heads tucked into their warm feathers, but occasionally having a stretch or a stroll, like this one. Along with this curlew and its pals there were oystercatchers, eider ducks, gulls, a great northern diver and cormorants fishing just off the beach. Someone walking past asked me what they were and we had a brief chat. He'd just returned to the north-east after living for 40 years in Brisbane so I expect he was feeling the difference on this chilly day, although the sunshine was sparkling.