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| Beach Buoy had been to work. He and Stubborn Dog arrived at the beach at 5pm. A bird watcher type had set up camp on the promenade over-looking The Little Terns nesting site. Flask and binoculars on promenade wall and another pair around his neck. A fellow bird watcher type had just left the scene with a laminated sign in hand as he headed to the beach, where others were running bunting between the KEEP OUT cones the lined the edges of the nesting site. A normally, speak when spoken to Beach Buoy asked the man how it was going. The man said he had been there all day and all day yesterday. Beach Buoy mentioned that the birds are more usually up at Crimdon, about five miles up the coast. The man informed him that crows had got to the eggs. Beach Buoy suggested maybe that's why they have moved here, the man agreed. Beach Buoy was surprised to be right for once. The man informed Beach Buoy that the eggs take 19 to 21 days to hatch. A lady in jeans and RSPB top walked quickly to the scene. She told the man more barriers might be needed at the sea end of the nesting site. She must have had a busy couple of days?... "We are going to be shadows of our former selves when all this is done." Beach Buoy told the man "It was nice taking to you." The man returned the compliment. Beach Buoy headed to the sand. A couple of helpers can be seen putting up the bunting on the first photograph. |
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| There was a mild wind from the south west. The wind carried the smell of the riverside industry. A bitter acrid smell drifted across the beach. Slants of rain moved across the horizon. Beach Buoy was hoping he had timed the walk to miss out on a soaking. |
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| The scene to the north didn't look too promising in the "Miss out on a soaking" stakes. |
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| It seemed a little brighter to the south.... just a little. A "Man" walked by with his dog. He didn't bother to clean up his dog's mess. As he walked he vaped. Puffs of smoke come from him as he walked. Another unwanted smell drifted across the beach but now it was Srawberrys, filtered by a stranger's lungs. A walking jogger appeared from the dunes and started to run again once he realised that he had an audience. Beach Buoy glanced back to see a fisherman following along the water's edge, with a number of bags, rod and tripod. Up at the grey rocks a couple gathered driftwood for a fire that they had started at the dune edge. Then the heavens opened and rain fell out. Lots of rain fell out. The raindrops were so large it felt like hailstones. The fire went out. Beach Buoy turned back. The walking fisherman had set up half way along the beach. He was trying to put a raincoat on in the downpour. |
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| The photograph doesn't do the scene justice, but St Hilda's Church over on the headland had a glow of its own. They arrived back at the van soaked to the skin. A young couple were taking a turn watching over the terns. BEACH BUOY. |
