Today we headed off to the LNR at Merkinch for some much needed vegetation clearance and litter-picking. A handrail at the viewing platform needed to be replaced and the steps were in need of having the rogue blackcurrant and gorse bushes cut down to size in order that visitors can gain access without being torn to shreds. After tea, we put away all the tools, donned waterproofs where necessary and headed off to the shore, armed with field guides and binoculars.Our task here was to record flora and fauna of the rock pools.Our jaunt to the beach began with a sighting of fourteen Grey herons in a gang-most unusual as these birds are notorious for being loners. It comprised a mixture of adults and juvenilles so may well have been a schooling session for the youngsters. Amongst our other finds was a cockle, a few crabs-shore and green,a selection of shell fish,and a few tiny fish as yet unidentified by our field guide. They may have been the fry of something larger or just a tiny race-either way, we’ll have to leave it a mystery for the time being. Oystercatchers, gulls,sandpipers and a tern were spotted too. The rain fell persistantly and the wind was ‘bracing’ but the sun shone throughout and it’s always preferrable to being inside.