Life at the Edge

Stunning photographs of coast, sea and wildlife by an award-winning natural history photographer. Discover the little-known and dramatic coastline of Caithness

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This book is a wonderful selection of
inspiring photographs reflecting life along 147 miles of fretted Caithness
coastline in the far north of Scotland. Divided into five broad habitats:
harbours; seas; beaches, dunes and links; sea cliffs and stacks; and rocky
shorelines, each photograph is accompanied by explanatory information, opening
the door into a wider world for the interested reader.



From
tranquil, sandy beaches to imposing sea cliffs, rocky shorelines to wild surf,
the Caithness coast is a delight for those who love nature and treasure the
great outdoors. The geology of the coastal cliffs, where the Old Red Sandstone
bedrock has been exposed to erosion from wind and wave over millennia provides
a home for the vast colonies of breeding seabirds over the summer months and the
dunes and links a haven where special little plants thrive despite their
exposure to the raw energy of the sea to the north and east – all these factors
combine to create one of the world’s great coasts. This is a coast where life
is challenged by the unforgiving conditions of Scotland’s northernmost county;
where life is at the edge of land and sea.



Harbours
provide a focal point for wildlife, from the familiar sound of the herring gull
perched on the harbour wall, always on the lookout for an easy meal from an
unsuspecting summer tourist, to less familiar birds, such as sawbills and
divers taking advantage of the calmer waters of the harbour basins during the
winter. At sea, the sight of an otter feeding on a fish close to shore makes
the heart sing, whilst a tall triangular fin cutting menacingly through the
water, indicating the presence of an orca, makes the heart beat just that
little bit faster.  



Waders
scurry along sandy beaches feeding on the tide’s bounty, and in the dunes and
links there is an array of charming plants blooming during the summer months, among
which the Scottish primrose (Primula
scotica) takes botanical pride of place; all attracting a range of
pollinators. 



There
is so much to discover and such a remarkable diversity, whether in the sea, on
the beach or a rocky shoreline. Life at
the Edge takes you there, and in such captivating detail through both words
and images. This is a book of natural wonders to be savoured and enjoyed, time
and again, enabling the reader to experience the essence of the natural history
of the Caithness coast.