Distance: about 8 km I reckon
Time 2 hours
Start: Corner of Sandra Street and Marine Parade, South New Brighton
Finish: Same place (it's a loop)
Date: Friday 27th March 2020
Day 2 of isolation amidst a Covid19 virus pandemic. The world is a changed place and today I was walking on my own. Luckily the beach is across the road and we are allowed to walk locally as long as we remain in our bubble.
I had waited until low tide before setting out, so as that I could keep a decent distance from fellow walkers. There were black clouds on the horizon but it was good to get out and I headed south towards the spit along the beach, taking photos of birds, shells, seaweed and wood sculptures. More alert than usual.
 |
| Bladder kelp |
|
 |
| Dosina anus |
|
|
The black-backed gulls and their juvenile chicks were dotted along the beach. It looked as if the adults were teaching the juveniles that technique whereby they lift a shell into the air and then drop it from the highest point. The shell slams to the ground, and after a few attempts, opens giving the black-backed gull access to the meat inside. I noticed that there is often a companion seagull (you know, the normal type with cute red beaks and slightly evil eyes) lingering nearby for possible morsels.
|
|  |
|
As I approached the spit a howling gale sprung up and sand was flying about like billio. The Māori name for the spit is Te Korero Karoro - the chattering of the seagulls - I like that. Around the corner, the wind eased and a smell of eggs and anchovies wafted up from the estuary. Hundreds of birds were in the distance. There is a path here through the old earthquake red zone but because the tide was so low I decided to walk along the estuary edge, below the high tide mark and the coastal erosion 'walls'. Near Ebbtide Street it was getting a bit mushy so I was back on the path. Then I saw my favourite bird (the Royal Spoonbill). It was sifting in the water with its beak like some prehistoric relic. Brilliant!
|
|
|
 |
| Royal spoonbill somewhere |
|
At about that point Sharyn and Neve came riding along on their bikes and we stopped for a chat with a healthy 5 meters in between us. Then it was a hop, skip and a jump along the boardwalk and through the Jellico Street park to home.
