16th December  2018

Storm Deirdre was bringing very strong winds and tides that were higher than normal even during periods of low tides. The newspapers were full of news of sand blowing on to coastal golf course wrecking the fairways. The beaches covered with foam.

We had to investigate this, so a trip to St. Cyrus Nature Reserve was essential. The river North Esk was so high and looked quite muddy with all the mud that was washed into it by the small streams flowing into it.

The sand dunes looked higher than usual with the additional load dumped on them by the winds from the north east. It was low tide but the waves were crashing on the shore and coming right in. They were so unpredictable that we got water into our boots even walking along shoreline. The birds were having a great time with all the food that was being washed ashore by these waves. I couldn’t really see anything but obviously they were finding something under the sand with their beaks. Gulls everywhere!!!