It was here; somewhere here

For some time I have been concerned at the absence of dotterels from South End of Snells Beach. Today, I was down there about two and a half hours after high tide, and there were at least a dozen Tuturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterels) scurrying around and feeding. This must be the ideal time to see them.

This is an adult male in alternate plumage. The southern subspecies apparently gets more strongly red than the northern subspecies, which this is. The younger birds and the females have much less obvious colour (see the extra). 

Poaka (Pied Stilts) have also been more numerous in the last weeks, including today. I am hoping that the numbers are because there is good feeding for them here, and therefore the numbers are up.

After a good rest overnight and through much of the day to now, mother-in-law is in much better spirits and shape than yesterday. Looking at photographs of her grandchildren and planning which ones to use to paint a portrait of each of them.