Lunch is served

I slept late this morning and when I woke it was still blowing and raining. A leisurely start over the Saturday Herald was clearly the order of the morning. By 1100 the wind had dropped, the clouds had cleared and we saw the sun. This called for a bird spotting jog on the edge of the water.

As it happened, apart from the ever present gulls (and only a few of them) and two shags, the only birds I identified were a number of kotare (kingfishers). This one was perched on an exposed rock outcrop with what I think is a shrimp in its beak. I did manage to get a little closer, but unfortunately the photos were a bit dark.

The storm of the last few days has shifted sand around, and there are many new channels and banks in the mudflats. Around the headland to "our beach" and all the extra sand which had covered the rocks where the grandchildren (now; once it was the children) play, has been moved further out, which will actually be better for swimming. We have tow walk so far out, the slope being so gradual.

The cliff face has not been brought down in any substantial way, which is reassuring.