Looking for a needle in a haystack

Not a great forecast for sea-watching, but bright sunshine made it a good day for a beach walk with a little bird-watching thrown in and the possibility of sighting the elusive Surf Scoter.

We parked at Lower Largo and wandered along the beach to our favourite haunt of Ruddons Point. En-route we had good views of waders and sea duck, but no sign of the Surf Scoter. The highlight was a flock of over fifty Sanderling (pictured) rushing around madly as the waves came in and RCB found a Bar-tailed Godwit to blip.

It had taken us over three hours to get to Ruddons and then at 4 o'clock I realised we're three and a half miles away from the car, it's over an hours drive home and we're going out at seven!. Left Mrs L at Ruddons with all the kit and headed back along the beach, leaving her a mile walk-out to the Ruddons car park which I'd drive round to. Just after five we were heading back to Perth and just after seven we were walking into town all showered and changed.

Had a really excellent meal with Grant & Helen, our upstairs neighbours, at Kerachers then back to theirs for a wee Drambuie and finally back downstairs - absolutely no chance of even thinking about blipping tonight - sorry, but now that I have you'd better check the Sanderlings out in Large.