Mudcrab study

Did a few towny things today and decided that, seeing as I was three-quarters of the way to the Boulder Bank I may as well continue.  A lovely if somewhat uninspiring half hour was spent watching birds mudcrabs!  Sadly, the only kingfisher who  came within cooee was too far away (extra) but the kingfisher's meals - the mudcrabs - turned out to be rather fascinating to watch.  The slightest movement, including a car driving along the access road 100m away, sent them all scampering back to their muddy homes in the mud.  I never saw a single one re-emerge but the next disturbance was proof enough that they had, very quietly and with zero fanfare, re-emerged from their homes as the scampering scene was repeated.   This alertness to movement makes the kingfisher's catching crabs feat even more impressive.  Another odd behaviour I saw repeated was what appeared to be constant gorging......claws were alternately moved from water/mud to mouth in a cycle that appeared to be drinking or eating.  Eating what I have no idea.......water? mud? sand grains?......but it was fascinating to watch.

After being guided to Max_Blazer's journal yesterday evening I'm feeling all the more fortunate to be able to spend half an hour doing anything remotely relaxing.  If you haven't seen his journal from the heart of the Mariupol war zone, it makes for heart-wrenching reading.  Words of support and encouragement fill his pages as does also his strength and belief.