Darkened silhouettes of trees stood out against the golden rise as cows emerged through wisps of fog hovering over the landscape. I was tempted to stop but the call of the sea was much to strong and time was not on my side this morning.

Distant hills of the Puketeraki Range stood surrounded in shades of marshmellow while the estuary was delicately lit. As the sky became brighter calls of birds echoed as some took flight. I realised time was passing by so I picked up my pace, clambered over the sand dunes to watch the rising of the sun.

The sea was quiet this morning, smaller waves rolled into shore made me think of toddlers learning to jump the waves. It was calm and tranquil as the sun lit the edges of clouds along the horizon as it began to rise. A few people out this morning, the perfect morning for some jogging and dog walking all heading in the opposite direction leaving me to savour this breath-taking moment.

There were many birds at the estuary, terns of several kinds, turnstones, mallards, pied stilts, white faced herons, spoonbills, gulls, shags, Canada geese, swans and tiny little red banded dotterels, the dawn chorus was loud and clear.

Although I've had to gently nurse my eyes throughout the day, it felt good to be back......at my kind of place.

Happy Thursday everyone :)