Tag Archives: tides

Beach Flowers

by . Posted on
29 Jun

 

The sun shone late one evening last week when I went for a walk along a beach in Errislannan with my family. This is a beautiful peninsula just south of Clifden. I took some pictures and we collected driftwood and paddled in the water.  Unexpectedly, I found a treasure of flowers growing in the area. This is the view looking back down the beach from the furthermost point.

 

Photograph of Beach at Erislannan by Deborah Watkins

 

 

 

There is no sand here, just stones all rounded by the tidal movements of the sea.

 

Photograph of stones by Deborah Watkins

 

 

 

 

I stopped to photograph this vivid blue plant on a bank along the beach. I am no botanist so I welcome advice on the naming of any of these! Is this one a Scabious?

 

Photograph of Blue Flower by Deborah Watkins

 

 

 

Here it is again from on top. I love its starlike shape and its jewel blue colours.

 

Second Photograph of Blue Flower

 

 

 

I almost missed this next one. There were just two little plants on their own right at the edge of the shore. I’m going out on a limb here to suggest that this might be a wild Orchid..

 

Photograph of Wild Orchid?

 

 

 

The next photo is of some Thrift, my favourite plant of all. I am amazed how it manages to grow so prolifically in the most barren of places, it seems to sustain itself from rock alone.

 

Photograph of Thrift by Deborah Watkins

 

 

 

I was surprised by how much it had turned, nearly all the clumps of flowers were a dry honey brown colour (below). I like the line of them still, their tall broad stems and their bobbles of crispy petals.

 

Photograph of Thrift by Deborah Watkins

 

 

 

Here’s one that’s just beginning to fade (below).

 

Photograph of Thrift by Deborah Watkins

 

 

 

This last picture is of a single Thrift flower still in full bloom. There were only a handful of these.

 

Photograph of Thrift by Deborah Watkins

Omey Strand

by . Posted on
17 Jun

Omey Island is a tidal island near Claddaghduff, north of Clifden. I drove there on a fine evening recently when the tide was out and I could walk across the strand. It is hardly noticeable as an island from the mainland until you get down to the beach. This is the view (below) looking across to Omey from the edge of Claddaghduff village.

 

Photograph of Omey Strand

 

 

It is possible to drive across the beach to the island at low tide and there are road signs along the way to guide you! It’s a strange sight in the middle of the strand and you have to remind yourself that the sea can cover a car here at high tide.

 

Photograph of road sign on Omey Strand

 

This is the view out to sea a little further along (below). The brightness of the open sky and glistening sand was stunning. I had the feeling I was in a desert and that I was absorbing a tonic sized portion of vitamin D that would last me a month.

I wanted to freeze the moment so that I could conjure it up again in my mind later and perhaps on some dark November evening when I will need to be reminded of such things.

 

Photograph of Omey Strand

 

 

This is the same view from the edge of Omey which is flanked by an idyllic stretch of golden sand and soft cushiony grass.

 

Photograph of Omey Strand from the Island

 

 

I returned back across to Claddaghduff making a mental note that I should allow myself more time on the next trip. Omey island has much to offer in terms of its natural beauty and its archaeological discoveries.

On my return, I took some photographs of the beach. There were some recent pony tracks in the sand (below).

 

Photograph of pony tracks in the sand

 

 

These next images reminded me that this place would be under water again in a couple of hours.

 

Photograph of Seaweed on Omey Strand

 

 

 

Photograph of Seaweed on Omey Strand