Crash landing

There was obviously a major problem with Blipfoto tonight, as I have been unable to upload until now (11 pm), nor to make any comments on other journals. It's funny how the anxiety builds up, this really is an addiction.

It was so grey and murky this morning that I couldn't see Whitbarrow on the other side of the Kent estuary. So I stopped to take a few photos of the black-headed gulls perching on the posts along the front at Sandside. These two were sparring for the top of the post, but it was difficult to tell if this was amorous behaviour or just aggression. Certainly the plumage on the head is beginning to blacken up for the breeding season. When I say blacken, the finished result is actually more chocolate-coloured than black. There are species such as the Mediterranean Gull that have truly black, glossy heads. Chocolate-headed gull? It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Brokenbanjo and I went for a walk to the River Kent at lunchtime. There were many large, dead and dying salmon in the river. The final stage for these individuals in the salmon's life-cycle, their return to the river to spawn has been completed and they drift exhausted and moribund downstream. There were plenty of black-headed gulls gathering here too, no doubt attracted by the bounty of easy food.

My blip is late tonight, not just because of uploading difficulties, but because I was late home after another Monday evening at the Climbing Wall. Brokenbanjo is making rapid progress and my strength failed long before his did. Youth versus decrepitude - no contest.