Stormy Weather II

[LMcD]

The rain has just arrived here on the Suffolk coast, but tomorrow looks much more promising - a chance to get out and admire some Autumn colours!

[Bryn]

The rain has just arrived here on the Suffolk coast, but tomorrow looks much more promising - a chance to get out and admire some Autumn colours!

Something of an 'Indian Summer' is forecast, I hear. I might just head off to Shaldon and do a bit of Cirl observing. It rather depends on whether the Labrador Bay RSPB warden is available, or not. He knows the ropes better than I do.

[oddoneout]

What you might call a yukky day today!

Although it hasn't been as bad precipitation-wise as forecast, low temperatures, wind and drizzle did not encourage extended fresh air taking. Tomorrow should be dry apparently, but overcast,chilly and a brisk cold sector wind, so still not exactly inviting.

[Serial_Apologist]

The rain has just arrived here on the Suffolk coast, but tomorrow looks much more promising - a chance to get out and admire some Autumn colours!

Late November temperatures here today. Windows steaming up.

Unfortunately the wind has seen to most of the autumn colours!

[teamsaint]

Just a perfect autumn afternoon and evening here and in London.

Pity the aircon was knackered on the train, but so it goes.

The sun shining on the gold/orange tree tops this evening was perfection.

Not been a bad autumn so far.

[DracoM]

Perfect autumn day, colours extravagant, shirtless kids unable to believe their luck and playing football in the field below, SE warm wind.
Wow!
And to think what the weekend is due to bring!!

[Serial_Apologist]

Just a perfect autumn afternoon and evening here and in London.

Pity the aircon was knackered on the train, but so it goes.

The sun shining on the gold/orange tree tops this evening was perfection.

Not been a bad autumn so far.

Sorry for the air quality being so poor over central London for you today, TS - the brown murk was clearly visible from down here, veiling out all except for the tops of the Hampstead Heath and Highgate hills, and even them by 6 pm. It had been so clear up until today.

Tonight I'm half-expecting being woken up by thunder, as the frontal system which brought those disastrous storms to the Balearics yesterday, and today, worms it's way here in the early hours. Some serious lightning displays west of Paris right now. Still warm but increasingly windy from Friday, with winds going around more SWerly on Sunday, with corresponding temperature falls (though still on the warmish side for mid-October, 15s and 16s) and windier the further north one happens to be.

[cloughie]

The rain has returned to the Duchy after a few marvellous Autumn days!

[BBMmk2]

Is it going to be fine today? I would like a ride on my motorbility scooter be nice I think.

[Serial_Apologist]

Is it going to be fine today? I would like a ride on my motorbility scooter be nice I think.

Rain after dark I would think, BBM.

Nice to see the return of some clean air over London today. It's windy, but actually a couple of degrees up on yesterday.

[teamsaint]

Sorry for the air quality being so poor over central London for you today, TS - the brown murk was clearly visible from down here, veiling out all except for the tops of the Hampstead Heath and Highgate hills, and even them by 6 pm. It had been so clear up until today.

Tonight I'm half-expecting being woken up by thunder, as the frontal system which brought those disastrous storms to the Balearics yesterday, and today, worms it's way here in the early hours. Some serious lightning displays west of Paris right now. Still warm but increasingly windy from Friday, with winds going around more SWerly on Sunday, with corresponding temperature falls (though still on the warmish side for mid-October, 15s and 16s) and windier the further north one happens to be.

It seemed ok out in East London, or at least no worse than usual. I didn’t spend much time in the centre of town, but if you expect good air quality in High Holborn, disappointment probably awaits.

In Norwich today, where it is hot and windy. Very odd.

[oddoneout]

It seemed ok out in East London, or at least no worse than usual. I didn’t spend much time in the centre of town, but if you expect good air quality in High Holborn, disappointment probably awaits.

In Norwich today, where it is hot and windy. Very odd.

Normal for Norfolk.

[Bryn]

Something of an 'Indian Summer' is forecast, I hear. I might just head off to Shaldon and do a bit of Cirl observing. It rather depends on whether the Labrador Bay RSPB warden is available, or not. He knows the ropes better than I do.

I headed to Shaldon Tuesday morning, arriving just after 8.30 a.m. As usual, I pitched a pop-up with fibre-glass polled flysheeted tent towards the far end of Ness Beach, just above the drift line. I met up with the RSPB warden on Wednesday morning and plenty of Cirl Buntings were in evidence, especially around the corner of a field in which their feed mix is scattered. A second highlight was watching my first Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding of lavender a few metres from where I park my car. I was able to watch it for several minutes before it headed off to forage elsewhere. I was quite taken aback by how very small it was. Tuesday evening, a 5-metre spring high tide was forecast. It came within a few centimetres of the edge of my tent. However, although the Wednesday evening high tide was predicted to reach the same height, the lower air pressure meant that many a time the tent was briefly lifted from the beach but basically held its place. However, while I had pitched on fairly level sand with no sign of rocks beneath the tent, when I arose at first light, enough sand had been washed away to leave several rounded rocks lifting the ground sheet. Discretion being the better part of valour, I quickly moved most of the tent's content up to my car, parked 103 steps, plus some uphill slopes, above the beach. This before the morning high tide which turned out to be much higher than predicted. I then returned to the tent, emptied it of its few remaining contents, partly collapsed it and moved it up onto rocks above the expected drift line and made my way back off the beach shortly before the high tide. Just before the car park charges came into force at 9.00 a.m. I moved the car up the winding road to Woodleigh Park. Returning to the beach a few hours later, I fully collapsed and packed away the tent and after making some coffee, took the tent and rucksack up to the car.

The journey back should have taken around 3 hours. However, due to the closure of the M4 eastbound between junctions 14 and 13, it actually took over 5 and a half hours. I now need to put the tent back up to clean it of sand, and salt, but the weather says no.

Well worth the trip for the Cirls and Hummingbird Hawk Moth, and the intermittent water-bed on Wednesday evening. Next time I will avoid spring tides.

[oddoneout]

Sunrise this morning was an amazing spectacle - 'Oh Radiant Dawn' indeed. If I'd been a few minutes later waking up I would have missed the best bit which was the sky a sheet of shining gold which took on coppery tints as the sun came above the horizon, gradually changing to rose flushed dove grey. As I live in a part of the world known for its big skies this was a real immersive experience. It may have been fleeting but it will stay with me for a long time.
On a more prosaic level, the wind is very strong today and the sun is more hit and miss than yesterday. As the wind is also very warm it provided a free very eco tumble dryer effect for the washing - although unravelling tangled jeans etc took a while. Yesterday evening was summery which made choir practice a bit odd - singing about chestnuts roasting and Jack Frost nipping noses while all around folks are shedding outer layers to reveal short sleeves has limited appeal.

[Serial_Apologist]

Returning to the beach a few hours later, I fully collapsed and packed away the tent

I hope you fully recovered Bryn! A very brave venture, given the weather, iimss!!!