A blog about writing, sketching, running and other things
I started running before 5AM this week, and so taking pictures wasn’t really an option. It was very cold, very dark, and I saw a night heron and some bats, but that’s it.
Sunrise over the Tel Aviv Marina:
Later on I went to Haifa for the Holiday of Holidays celebration, so to make up for the non existent running photos, here are some Christmas ones instead:
Last week’s long run was cancelled due to horrific weather conditions, but this one was run in almost perfect conditions, as if to compensate.
Check out this great bittern all camouflaged away waiting for some unsuspecting fish to come along. He’s in the water, on the right centre side of the photo:
Geese and gulls in the sunrise:
This little coot climbed on board the peddle boat and started nosing around for something good to eat. They’re pretty shy, so it was cool seeing him so relatively clearly:
A cormorant swimming in the middle of the river:
10km done and dusted.
There’s not much to say about this run except that I really needed it and really enjoyed it. So many bad things are going on in my life right now, it’s good to have running as a way of letting out some steam and escaping for a while.
This morning’s long run was a race against the rain (spoiler alert — I lost at the last kilometre). Started out at 5:30, one of my earliest runs yet, and I could see the dark rain clouds come in over the sea. I would have loved to take a picture of them and the giant waves, but I prioritized getting my run over with before I got completely drenched, so I pushed forward instead.
I did stop to take a picture of this heron (there’s a better picture of him on the way back) because he looked so majestic against the backdrop of the river and the rising sun.
You can’t see him particularly well, but this is a pied kingfisher atop a pole. I saw him there last week too, so maybe that’s his spot. Later on during the morning seagulls take over the area and no kingfishers are to be found.
These pair of Egyptian geese were out grazing and the male really didn’t approve of me taking photos of his wife. They are large and pretty fearless birds, so once he started complaining at me I made sure to give him plenty of space.
And the heron from earlier, enjoying a cold morning dip:
A little egret paced along the temporary beach created by the low tide. He looked busy and preoccupied.
Just after I took this photo in a light drizzle on the last 900 meters of my run, torrential rain started, coupled by cold winds. Arrived home drenched and freezing, but elated. Running in the rain is a wild experience that everyone should try at least once.
It’s funny going on a morning run and seeing the moon for a good part of the way.
Sunrise wasn’t too far away though, and with the waves and the clouds it painted a very pretty picture:
In the park a pair of hoopoes was shy enough to keep their distance, but I still managed to get a shot of one of them. Their colouring seems so bold until you see them by the mud of the riverbank.
Then it was cormorants all the way, from their usual tree, to a fishing pair in the river:
They really can dive, and I spent a minute or two trying to guess where they’ll emerge next.
All in all a good 10k run in pretty chilly weather.
For the first time ever I ran two 10ks in a week, and my legs kind of hate me right now.
I listened to the last episode of season 3 of Serial and it was heartbreaking, as was this entire season.
Seagulls in the sunrise:
And ducks:
Not sure if you can see them there, but here are some baby Egyptian geese with their parents:
Seagulls perched on boats, which is pretty unusual, as they normally don’t fly this far up river.
A kingfisher perched on a wire:
And finally some Egyptian geese grazing near the path:
I have a 10k this week, so today’s long run was on the short side: only 7k.
A few pretty sunrise photos:
And now, the birds:
Set out early as we’re in the midst of a heat wave (yes, it’s November) and I didn’t fancy running in the sun.
So dark outside…
A few km in and I saw two herons resting on the water’s edge.
Then came the Egyptian geese:
And a mallard mom with her ducklings:
I love seeing the sun rise over the river:
And over a grumpy night heron:
More Egyptian geese on the way:
A little egret perched on a boat:
The starting line gate for upcoming Tel Aviv Night Run is already up:
A great 10k, my last one before the Night Run race.
It’s municipal Election Day here, and the streets are jumping with people out and about (for the first time ever it’s a day off for everyone). Went for a 6k run that turned into a 6.5k and then went to vote.
Tel Aviv is wonderful in this time of year.
Writing at Large 