Grey skies over Rio

Walked along the beach this morning, camera in hand (memo to self - check the battery's full or take a spare next time). Liked the grey tones of this shot, so have chosen it over some of a girl playing with her dogs, and palm trees silhouetted against the sky.

After the battery ran out I sat and watched the frigate birds and cormorants riding the thermals up above. They slowly drift in from quite a wide area and then, if one watches long enough, gradually lift up and up and spiral gently away - where to? Spotted a couple of buzzards up there, but was amused by a pigeon who fancied himself among the aristocracy for a while and then executed a dignified drift back down to the beach. Got the idea quite well though - only flapped his wings shortly before landing.

Had my head tipped back for such a long time that labyrinthitis set in when I got up and I reeled along the pavement as if I was trying to follow Burle Marx's famous black and white wave pattern design.