Oystercatcher

On the garden wall at Castle Fraser.

Half a travel day; to Banchory, on the south edge of Aberdeenshire. Had a request to make a side trip to Greens, between Cuminestown and New Deer, to pick up a dressage saddle. Lots of little back roads. Then via Fyvia and Oldmeldrum to Inverurie then to Castle Fraser.

Walked through the grounds, had tea and lentil soup, climbed up the tower stairs. Good views; a rather fine kist lock in the main room. Then on to my brother's house. 

Walked downriver to the edge of the Crathes estate. River very high. One or two rising fish, a wagtail, a duck. Quite a few people on foot with dogs and on bicycles.