Nairn harbour, Highlands  The Moray Firth looked featureless
with the grey, calm sea extending northwards to the Cromarty
Firth eight miles away. The birds thought otherwise as each
species was exploiting its own different area.  A group of eider
ducks off the end of the pier were diving for shellfish,
including three adult males with their characteristic lime-green
feathers on the sides of the head. As usual they were
accompanied by a few gulls awaiting any scraps that they could
steal. Further out were four scaup ducks, three of them males,
and a single herring gull, again waiting for scraps, although
the ducks seemed more intent on sleeping than feeding. Five
cormorants were using a large buoy, a long way from shore, as a
convenient place to launch themselves into another fishing trip.
If successful, they returned to the buoy and sat with wings
open, looking heraldic, although whether to dry them or aid
digestion still seems a mystery.  A hidden sand bar, way out,
was making shallow waves as the tide ebbed