In search of Pennybun

I knew that 'Pennybun' was on the Black Isle today as part of her wildlife tour of the Highlands. We knew it would probably be impossible to meet up as the minibus ran to tight schedule but I could let the opportunity go by with out trying to find her and the rest of the tour group.
So we went down to the Point first. I had seen a few dolphins through the telescope but they had disappeared by the tie we arrived. The water was flat calm, a few seals and plenty of birds around.
The Point carpark is now open although still a little bit of work still to be done..I was nt sure if I was going to like the transformation but I did , I liked it a lot ! Plenty of parking on a flat surface surrounded by new turf which contains wild flower seeds. The blip photo shows the amazing carving of a dolphin and bee created by sculptor Stuart Murdoch. It is a' 1.3m diameter sandstone sculpture featuring a bee and dolphin with Celtic and Pictish motifs. Hand-cut lettering of Jacques Cousteau quote -" The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist. For man it is to know and wonder at it "
A wander along the beach with some good china and sea glass findings.
No luck on a sighting of Pennybun so we headed for Udale bay but just as we were about to turn right a minibus came out of the road so we followed hoping it would stop nearby and a group of bird watchers would get out. We followed it round the rest of the Black Isle but had to pass it and thought it must be going to the Beauly Firth so we drove on ahead. The tide was in and the bank that we had walked on last week was surrounded by water and covered in birds from gulls , cormorants to curlew and oyster catchers. No minibus so we had to call it a day and realise that it probably had nt been the right minibus.
We had a quick look at North Kessock. Two swans swam on the water and hundreds of guillemots were  on the water and flying under the bridge.
Home to do a bit of gardening. Big plans to make a new seating area and some raised beds and possibly another pond.
The rain has now started and the winds are due to become stronger tonight so I've taken the hanging baskets down.