Saturday 15 July 2017

Seasonal Confusion

When I arrived at the reserve early this morning it was under an overcast sky but it was very humid and there was a total stillness in the air. Small parties of Sand Martins passed across the grazing meadows heading south and ultimately Africa, just stopping briefly to circle round the cattle and feed on their attendant flies. On the power wires above the entrance to the reserve, large groups of young swallows were perched, twittering happily among themselves as they do and no doubt thinking about joining the Sand Martins. On the fluffy seed heads of thistles small family groups of Goldfinches were plucking out fresh seeds to eat and, strange as it may seem, this whole scene gave me an over-whelming feeling of autumn being just around the corner. As I wandered around the reserve that mood stayed with me, crazy you might say, you're getting ahead of yourself, it's only the second week of July, but what is normal about our seasons these days, are the birds sensing something that we haven't quite grasped yet.
Unfortunately the weather remained pretty grey all day and with a fresh and chilly breeze and a few spits and spots of rain occurring it seemed even more autumnal, I know some people don't like hot sunny days in summer but it would be nice to have such a traditional summer last a bit longer than it currently is.
Oh, and if Wilma reads this - it'd be nice to see a new blog from you and an up-date on your life in paradise.

14 comments:

  1. I've often considered that as far as birds are concerned, Autumn begins in late June.

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  2. Very true Steve, forgot to mention a couple of Green Sandpipers on the reserve as well this morning, Autumn migration as we know it.

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  3. It has been cool here too today Derek and a distinct Autumnal feel to things - windy too. I always think that up here in North Yorkshire our Summers are very short.

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    1. Turning out to be a strange year all round Pat

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  4. Hi Derek - believe it or not, I went out yesterday with my young friend Nolbert and took some pictures that I plan to use in blog post in the next few days. Try to enjoy your summer and get the most out of your autumn without letting the thoughts of suck the beauty out of the day. Easier said than done, as I recall all too well from my years in the cold north. In the meantime - Cheers!

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    1. P.S. - thank you for your encouragement. It helps more than I can say.

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    2. Knowing I can always rely on a comment from you Wilma, also helps a lot at this end.

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  5. It was 47.3 C somewhere in Spain a day or two ago. A new record. The hot air is streaming north-east. By Thursday it could be 37 C in Vienna. We have 3 new species of mosquitoes and they've found me already.

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  6. The weather's going up and down like a bloody yo-yo here Gwil, which I suppose is typically British, just as when it's hot people complain about that and then the same people complain about it being too cold. Is that an honour, being bitten by a new species of mossie.

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  7. Remember those Swiss weather chalets where either a little Swiss man or a little Swiss woman would pop out to predict the weather? They should make a little Derek chalet - perhaps the model of a small "outhouse" from which Derek emerges to predict changing seasons.

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  8. It would never work YP, I rarely predict the weather right, just moan about it.

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  9. Hi Derek,

    Where do you park and then walk to view the little terns and roosting bar tails at Shellness ? Never been there so have no idea where to go...

    Cheers,

    James

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  10. Alongside Shellness itself James. There is a car park there by the Hamlet entrance gate, go over the stile on the sea wall and follow the track round to Shellness Point beach.

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