Storm Bert is still whipping his way round the park as I arrive this morning. I head to the woodland to see the damage Bert has caused. Heading along Long Meadow the tops of Holm Oaks in the woodland sway aggressively from side to side as there buffeted by the wind. I pass a dead tree where the top has snapped out overnight, though thankfully not large and has fallen to the side of the path. In the woodland the paths are covered with leaves and twigs blown from the trees above. While the heavy rain has cut channels through the leaves, though its nice to see the drainage improvements we have made over the last few months seem to be working.
At the top of the woodchip path a couple of the logs from the log edging are covered in a wonderful display of Turkey Tail Fungus. While in the canopy above a couple of Wood Pigeons fly from tree to tree.
Looking out to sea as I head down the coast path, the waves are being whipped in to a frenzy by the wind. Though not quite as wild yesterday, where the waves were crashing over the top of the cliff.
Through into the woodland opposite the castle, some chirping from over head catches my attention. Several Long-Tailed Tits flit amongst the branches of a swaying Willow. There long tails make them easy to spot amongst the bare branches of the Willow, switch sways aggressively, though the little birds seem unfazed. A Great Tit joins them, looking huge in comparison to the tiny little Long Tailed Tits.
Heading along the top of light house field I spot some soggy looking Robins Pin Cushion Galls, adorning the branches of a Dog Rose. These fluffy looking red balls are harmless to the plant and are made by a species of Gall Wasp laying their eggs in a leaf bud, this releases a chemical that makes the plant grow distorted.
Getting back to the Learning Centre I’m intrigued to see what the maximum wind gusts were last night, though am disappointed to see our wind recorder seems to have malfunctioned and only recorded 0mph! its winder than that by quite some distance.