#Spotted Recently at the Beach in Aotearoa New Zealand:

[georgepenney@sunny.garden]

#Spotted Recently at the Beach in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A tiny human (1.5?) is toddle-running down into the surf only for the receding water to come back again!
(Oh no!)
Shrieking she runs back up the sand again.
But wait!
The water's going away again?
Hmm.
Maybe it's time to go back in...

A weka is standing guard next to a picnic table laid with an impressive spread of bread, cheese, dips and an entire sponge cake.
Weka is quiet.
Weka is sneaky...
BUT WHAT IS THIS?!
A peeping weka chick comes out from under a nearby bush? And another?
Maybe not so sneaky after all...

A man (30s?) and three small humans (3-6?) are stretched out on their tummies on the sand, heads resting on their hands, eyes closed as they nap. The sun is shining, all is peaceful. Looking like three contented, happily basking seals in a row.

A group of black and white shags* are congregated at the water's edge, looking like bendy penguins with their sturdy bodies and long necks as they waddle in unison too and fro with the flow of the tide.

A woman (20s?) is sitting with her tiny human (1?) in her lap, carefully making drawings in the sand with a small stick. Mum is carefully drawing flowers, and Tiny Human is very helpfully SWOOSHING her feet over the sand to artfully scuff them afterwards.
Collaboration at its most adorable.

(Continued Below)

[georgepenney@sunny.garden]

Any typos spotted in this post spent a delightful afternoon at the beach last weekend only to have two weka parents and their chicks try to steal a) a bucket hat, b) a jandal* and c) a piece of fish from our fish and chips. If spotted please remind them to take a picture! They keep forgetting.

*Wekas are a beloved local bird that will absolutely snaffle anything. See picture. They look innocent and quiet but they are very very very sneaky.

*The shags in this case were Chatham Islands shags as far as I could tell.

*Jandals are flip flops or thongs.