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David

On porpoise (weathervane)

On porpoise (weathervane)

I usually save pictures of unusual weathervanes I’ve spotted for special posts over Christmas, but this one went that step beyond in having the pointer as a 3D representation of a leaping porpoise. Topsham, overlooking the Goatwalk footpath by the Exe estuary.

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David

Autumn fungi: white mushroom

Autumn fungi: white mushroom

It seems that the autumn fungi flush might be getting going. It’s possible to spot a few different species even when wandering down quiet residential streets.

These mushrooms were on a front lawn, to far away for a proper ID. But they stood out because their caps were very white.

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David

Tenderness: swans entwining

Tenderness: swans entwining

Two swans with their necks entwined. At the feet of the effigy of Margaret de Bohun, Countess of Devon, in the fourteenth century tomb she shares with her husband, Hugh de Courtney, Earl of Devon.

When swans are paired up (supposedly monogamously and for life) they do engage in their own version of necking, but I have my doubts that the contortions go quite so far as portrayed here.

A swan was the Bohun family heraldic beast, at least according to Wikipedia. The tomb is in the west transept of Exeter cathedral.

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David

From Dawlish Warren, looking west

From Dawlish Warren, looking west

The view from the sea front at Dawlish Warren looking towards the west (perhaps the direction is closer to south west). The town of Dawlish is hidden by the sandstone cliff promontory of Langstone Rock with its sea arch.

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David

Just turning: Virginia creeper leaves

Just turning: Virginia creeper

Close-up of leaves on a Virginia creeper when they had just started turning from green to red for the autumn.

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David

From Dawlish Warren, looking east

From Dawlish Warren, looking east

Views from the sea front at Dawlish Warren, looking east towards the Exe estuary. Beyond the estuary, there’s Exmouth and, at the twon’s far end, the beginning of the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.