Named by the Spanish, Storm Barbara hit Southern England this morning with heavy rain and fairly

strong winds after drifting north from the Continent. Wet and windy weather without the cold is fine, this morning it was about 16 degrees, a pleasure to venture out after buying essential supplies at Southbourne Farm Shop.

The trees have now lost most of their greenness becoming a delightful range of light reds and yellows. The light was still bright enough to make them stand out against the grey backdrop; it seemed out of keeping on such a rainy day. The leaves are still clinging on to the branches despite the stiff breeze, for now at least.

The harbour is a vast mudscape stretching out to Pilsey and the island between it and Cobnor which is clearly visible. It’s not surprising that attempts were made to make into cultivated this land by building a sea wall, it’s all very shallow with the only real channel alongside Thorney Island

Few waders were in the outflow except several striking birds similar to a Redshank but slightly larger and lighter. They’re probably Greenshanks but might be Spotted Redshanks, I wasn’t able to be certain. They were rather elegant

with their dark legs and white breasts contrasting with a much darker back.

Further on it was impossible to miss large numbers of Brent Geese that were out on the mud pecking away  for scraps of food. Although distant, the noise was unmistakable and surprisingly loud carried up to us by the southerly wind.

On the return there’s an old orchard that has hardly any apples visible this year although Bonnie did find one on the ground. Last year there was a bumper crop of bright red apples, such a contrast. 

Apparently this year is a Mast year as there’s a huge crop of Beech nuts which happens from time to time. There’s been plenty of chestnuts and acorns too, perhaps this cycle is intentionally our of step with fruit. It seems that it’s natures way of overwhelming animals that eat the nuts in order to get more seedlings established.