Monday, April 02, 2012
I was approaching the vehicle enclosure when a couple of birds flew out of this tree (goldfinches I think). Then (as I thought) a whole flock went up; but they weren't birds, they were dead leaves being stripped off the branches. They all rose in a sort of tower above the tree, crackling because they were so dry. I was too slow to get that, and only snapped the tree afterwards.
The whirling leaves were flung sideways and as I turned to watch them, I realised that beneath them there was a spiral of dust rising from the ground and whipping away down the track eastwards. The photo doesn't convey how impressive this sudden wind was; I've often seen little dust whirlwinds of course, but this was clearly much bigger as it also engulfed the tree (apparently known as a dust devil).
Slowly the leaves dispersed and settled, and it all subsided halfway along the enclosure.
And that's the most interesting thing I saw at Dorney today.
// posted by Christine @ 9:46 AM 
