1000/379: 05 March 2011: Oystercatchers

I love oystercatchers – they’re eye-catching, big enough to see easily and they remind me of the gangs of boisterous teenagers that people try to ban from shopping centres. Their excited piping is the sound of the seaside to me – much more so than the sound of gulls which I always associate with human rubbish and slightly iffy tourist attractions. And even though they have a giant orange marlin spike on the front of their face they aren’t aggressive like gulls.

They are probably my favourite bird and I could watch them for ages – but they're beggars to photograph. Their excitability is a measure of their nervousness, so it took me ages to sneak up on this lot – and they flew off almost immediately as I made an unguarded movement. Maybe I’ll try again next Saturday.

For the observant there’s also a couple of redshank in the back row.

365/323: 08 January 2011: Solway Sunrise (for a change)

The Solway is famous for its sunsets but the view across to Criffel can look pretty stunning at sunrise as well if the weather is right. This was taken on the beach about 2/3 of the way to Skinburness. Very icy – had thought to walk across the pebbles but they were all coated with a thin sheen of ice - twisted my knee and nearly broke an ankle.

365/104: 03 June 2010: Another Solway Sunset

Went for a walk in Maryport this evening – or more accurately along the prom then back along the top. Nice warm evening and the light as the sun was setting was absolutely stunning – took about 50 pictures in an hour. Just love the golden hues you get at this time of the evening when there is a little bit of haze about.