Everything is Permuted

"For the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures." Reported by the BBC 9/10/2009

I came across that quote while researching for this year's Blog Action Day post on 'Climate Change'. So much for the evidence of global warming.
Global warming?

For me, clean air, clean rivers, and abundant wildlife are the signs we are getting it right. Pollution and decay, signs we are getting it wrong. The climate will change (it always has) and it will get warmer (and colder). It always has. There will be catastrophic weather events, crops will fail (and there will be years of bumper harvests). Drought will follow flood. These are as near to certainties as we can get. The science will lead to change (even if not 'climate change'); and more efficient use of resources (read: reduce CO₂ emissions) is certainly a worthwhile goal. So while I remain cynical about the headline claims, I do support moves to reduce carbon emissions, to reduce unnecessary exploitation of finite resources, to use clean and renewable energy. These things make sense whatever the weather happens to be doing outside.

So me? I'll continue to wrap up warm (or wear a sun hat), take out a camera, observe the richness and beauty of nature, and follow the changing seasons.

And wherever I go I will leave a small carbon footprint to mark my passage. But it won't be as small as her footprint.



Camera note: snow scene taken in February this year with the Canon 40D and EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens. The vixen was photographed tonight with the 40D and EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.

The recent persistent rain finally left these shores overnight and today proved to be one of those slightly sharp but beautiful autumn days.
View of Stanmer Park

The rain has brought out the fungi, and I came across several large clumps of honey fungus.
Honey fungus

While visually spectacular, this isn't one you want to find in your garden. It spreads via underground bootlace threads (rhizomorphs) and can cause significant damage to other plants and trees. Not that this squirrel seemed too worried about it.


Numerous corvids were enjoying the sunshine, including several magpies (we seem to have lots of them about).
Magpie

Most of the smaller birds were playing hard to get, flitting in and out of the dense thickets at the edge of the woods. One did finally show itself and I'm going to make a wild guess and say that it's a chiffchaff.
Chiffchaff

And just to prove the skies really were blue all day, I took this last shot as I was heading for the car at the end of work.
Pied wagtail

On the home front, Bold was back and her eye seems to be improving.


Mind you, one false move here and all the good work could be undone.
Bold vixen and hedgehog

Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D. The daytime shots were all taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The photos of the vixen were with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens.