Boats on the Basin

Endless heavy clouds from which random and short lived showers fall, together with sparse patches of blue that let the sun shine through for a few minutes. It doesn't feel like summer and it's been like this on and off for days. 

I couldn't stop in the morning to get a photo in the morning light but the light coming through the clouds on my return played to my advantage.  To prove I've barely touched my camera for far too long, I only noticed when I loaded this photo that I'd not changed the aperture from yesterday evening.  Not a good look.  I guess it will take a while to get back into practice. 
 
This was taken at the south end of the Montrose Basin where a bridge once spanned a second route for water to flow in and out to sea. It took a while for me to understand why the area was called Rossie Island. An Island it was however the river was blocked and filled to create a significant amount of land for Montrose Port. This area now consists of a thick layer of silty mud but is very sheltered and a safe harbour for the small boats which are, as far as I know, confined to the basin waters.  It's part anchorage and part nautical graveyard but makes a fine spot for photography. 

The Montrose Basin is an internationally important site for birds.  Although 213 species have been recorded over the years, there is a list of over 100 species which regularly visit, however, the estuary is best known for the sight of as many as 80,000 Pink-footed geese that congregate during their migration in the autumn.  
I know of the common garden birds, but I've never learnt that much about waders and sea birds. I've got a lot to learn!