Delicately picking a path

We had the grandboys overnight, and no respecters of the sensibilities of those who welcomed the New Year at midnight, they were awake by 0630. Half an hour later, I set them up to watch the Muppet Movie, gave S a nice strong coffee and headed out for my first run of 2012.

The rain was in abeyance, and although the clouds were ever present, they were high. Along the foreshore at Snells, there was a great expanse of mudflat and sand bars, with many pools and channels of water. Lovely layers and shapes.

Got right to the northern end of the beach, and had turned to come back a way before the climb up to the ridge-top road for the run home, before I saw any shore birds closer than the distant tidal edge.

This heron was in a large pool relatively close to the high tide mark. I decided to try and get closer, and delicately found a way over sand between mud and water. I was (of course) spotted by the heron which also quite delicately made its way from a pool where it was set off well, to this larger pool. I ceased trying to get any closer, as the heron was looking a little agitated, and from past experience looked about to fly away. I have cropped and enlarged the pic a bit.

Boys were a bit on the active side for much of the morning until we drove back to Auckland with them for a gathering to mark the birthday of S' niece. She returned from London a week or so after our daughter came back, although her (niece) intentions are to return to London.

Then back up here, post my blip, and end the day with a nice malt and some Christmas cake.