Gloria – and Greta
Nature Trail by Malcolm Palmer
The destructive passage of Gloria, perhaps the worst storm to hit our tranquil coast in recent history, should make us think twice before rejecting the doomladen predictions of young Great Thunberg. Climatechange
is a reality that we should accept.
As I write, I am just back from taking a look at the ravages of the storm along our coast, and at El Pinet, the narrow sandy beach, for the moment at least, is no more!
But this column cannot be concerned with the problems of beach-tourism.
Flooded fields are a spin-off advantage, and the birds certainly think so.
I watched skeins of Glossy Ibis flying around, spoilt for choice. Lapwings were everywhere, accompanied by Golden Plover in smaller numbers, together with the occasional Wood sandpiper, and where the field had dried out more, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Crested Larks and Linnets fed in good numbers.
And of course, birds of prey were not slow to take advantage of this bounty, Marsh Harriers and Booted Eagles plundering the small birds and mammals and generally causing panic.
Back though to the bigger picture: it is increasingly clear that much of the building of urbanizations with second homes and tourism in mind, carried out during the ‘boom years’ was at best ill-advised, and - at risk of offending some readers who may be unfortunate enough to be in those situations - the future of some of the lower-lying urbanizations (I need hardly mention them by name) looks bleak indeed, as water-levels rise, and repeats of storms like Gloria threaten.
Should you have any comments or observations, you can email me at malcaves@yahoo.es