Monday 3rd January 2022
A boisterous beach. Cold snap in the wind, biting the fingers. Snowcap back on the Ben. The beach is a frothy turbulent transition space. Life on the edge, with a very different sea world meeting the land. A large log, previous buried high up on the sand, is now alive and rolling about in the surf like a large happy dog. Big sky and unusual cloud formations today.
The tide reaches the large rocks protecting the prom. It has created a steep bank of pebbles under the rocks. As the waves come in small pebbles are deposited on the bank. The water retreats causing the pebbles to roll down the stony back, creating a delightfully reassuring marble run sound.
A single gull hangs in the wind balancing its effort scoping the rocks for food. A pair of pied wagtails flit about the grass on the links. Tiny cheerful tame birds not far from our feet. Wag wagging their tails.
We are very visually dominant as a species. Yet it is the sounds of the beach, frothy waves and stony cascades, I find deeply nourishing. The smell of the sea, more subtle than the sounds, also feels nutritious. A healthful start to the day.
Nairn Beach Notes