Am off to Bardsey Island for a week. Should see plenty of these. This one was photographed on Southend Pier on Wednesday. A week or ten days ago it was probably in the high Arctic - possibly even Canada - trying as best it could to defend its young from the likes of Arctic Foxes and Snowy Owls. A wild bird if ever there was one. This week, though, it is trotting around on the pier, not so much ignoring the scores of day trippers passing by as actively pursuing them in search of bread and biscuit crumbs! Michael - like you, I am not sure how intelligent birds are but some at least are quick learners and very adaptable! Perhaps when - as one gloomy scenario puts it - life on earth is reduced to human beings and a few other generalist species such as rats, fleas and Japanese Knotweed - Turnstones might be among the more pleasant survivors!
