A walk in 'Auld Reekie' and some quiz answers

So Gail and I said goodbye to the quiet fishing town of Eyemouth on Friday morning and took a final quick peek at fog-bound Coldingham Bay before heading north.  No swimming for Gail this time, but several other middle aged ladies were cavorting in the waves with great apparent enjoyment.

Next stop was Edinburgh to meet up with friends Françoise and John for a gentle stroll up Blackfold Hill.  Gosh, doesn't Auld Reekie look dry at the moment?

And I was hot and thirsty. 

We were home in Aberdeen by evening and, wow, I must say Gail and I were most impressed by the response to our Nature Friday quiz! We had great fun reading all your answers. 

Everyone did brilliantly, of course, but that was to be expected as we know our readers are super smart and knowledgable. 

So gold stars to all who entered the quiz. Below, a few comments on the answers.

#1 Yes it was of course doggy paddle.

#2 Most of you already knew that the adder is a venomous snake. Extra fun fact - it's only poisonous one we have in the UK.

#3 We're pleased to note that all our readers are aware of the dangers of straying too near the edge of steep cliffs.

#4 Several good guesses here, but Gail thinks Rosy of the LLB Gang was most likely correct in suggesting I'd detected the presence of a vole

#5 You all seemed to struggle with this question. Perhaps the lack of Nature Friday relevance put you off! The correct answer is 'Biscoff'. Well done Dalton and Benji for coming close with Biscotti.

#6 Yes it was a rat. Full marks to YAM-aunty for scientific rigour in giving the species name Rattus rattus. 

#7 Perhaps no surprise that our friends Millie and Walter and their super-observant bird-watcher Mom did best with this question, spotting the gulls on the rooftops as well as the more obvious ones in the foreground, 

#8 Several creative answers here. We like Cecilia's suggestion that the rat disguised himself as a Black Sheep, and Rosy's idea that what we are seeing in this picture is a Black Sheep convention. And yes Ruby, it will indeed always be the Black Sheep of the family who is made to clear up after Christmas dinner...