About to fly away

The heavy rain of yesterday and overnight had eased by this morning into a persistent drizzle which discouraged an early morning run. By mid morning, the rain had stopped, and the tide encouraged a bird spotting walk from Southend, Snells Beach, around to Our Beach and back up the stairs. The birds were largely absent. Oystercatchers were skittish, the shags were confident, and the gannets cruised the sky, without me seeing even one dive while I was there.