Storm Emma has arrived from the direction of Madeira, out in the North Atlantic. I've watched the wind swing around to the South-west and increasing at times to 60mph. The sea has a heavy swell and large waves are crashing on the beach at Alvor. Some minor damage to beach huts is currently occurring on the latest high tide. Squally showers are passing through frequently, with heavier thunderstorms never far away. The effect on land birding is quite dramatic, everything has seemingly gone to ground, even in sheltered areas. A look at the West coast near Aljezur again produced a rough sea with hundreds of Gannets streaming South. A single Great Skua followed the Gannets in the short time I endured the gale-force winds. Fortunately, the temperature was 17C! Great Skua pursuing Gannet.
Sadly, the storm is revealing the major problem we see in our seas now - Plastic. The next two images show a 1ft x 1ft area of the high tide line at Alvor and every step you walk, reveals the same. I disposed of many objects in the numerous beach litter bins - plastic bottles, toys, fishing crates, fishing line, straws, bottle tops, the list and the amount is endless. The small fragments are more numerous, in the first image below are in excess of thirty pieces. Comments are closed.
|
|