We're quite used to floods delivering all sorts of assorted rubbish/debris/flotsam to us, but a measure of the extent of the flooding in the Arun valley in recent days could be found on the 'tide line' on the north brooks this morning: hundreds, if not thousands, of turnips. Suprising and more than a touch surreal, they've been washed out of nearby arable land and no doubt represent a significan loss to the farmer who planted them.
Also bobbing about on the north brooks were at least 180 pintails, and plenty of teal, shoveler and wigeon. I'm not sure any of them like turnips. A few hundred lapwings were roosting on the tiny strip of green that is the crest of the flood defence bank, along with dozens of pied wagtails and meadow pipits, which were taking advantage of the millions of tiny invertebrates washed out of the surrounding grassland.
The nature trail remains flooded between west mead and winpenny hides - winpenny hide and Nettley's hide remain closed/cut off due to flooding. All the other hides and viewpoints remain open.
Turnips, with more traditional flotsam.
The turnip tideline...
The big oak on the north brooks. Note the owl box.
The River Stor this morning - public footpath not accessible!