Conditions at 12z (1PM BST): Thickness, 549dam, temperature 16C (dewpoint 9C). Wind from the southwest, 21 MPH. Today's high, 17C, last night's low 9C. (source: MetO, the 12z GFS and NOAA). The chart for noon (GMT) today shows strong winds across the UK, with fronts looming to the west bringing increasing cloud throughout the day.

Today dawned with clear skies, a heavy dew and an overnight low of 9.4C here - pleasantly fresh compared to recent nights. The skies were still clear as I set out a little earlier than usual, with the temperature by now exactly 10C. I was relieved to see some cirrus as I headed west, as rashly I'd made a bet to eat some paunch* if it was sunny all day as predicted by the Met Office 5-day forecast for Reading on Friday!

* paunch - sheep's stomach, something the wolves enjoy (and which smells pretty awful).

I pulled up at half nine, with the sun still beating down. However, the high cloud was building all the while, and it was pretty gusty.

View to the East, 0830z (Beenham)

I wasn't the first to arrive, though, as Sue (an assistant senior) had beaten me there. One of the nicer features of the carpark is that it's right next to the Euro enclosure - and like last week they all galloped over to greet us. As Sue was around, I was able to head behind the safety fence and give Latea a good rub. She's the most submissive of the Euros and this time Lunca and Alba stayed well away. As it was still early, we then headed down to say hello to Kodiak and Kenai, the former sporting a wonderful soft ruff of fur. Indeed, the wolves are all growing their winter coats now, but only time will tell if they really need all that insulation.

We then headed back to the Obs Room, yo set up the scanner. Today we were going to scan in a large number of book covers to go on the Intranet (as visitors sometimes ask about wolf books, it's handy to have a list of them for their use). While I was fiddling around the back of the PC the Euros decided to howl, this time initially with Alba and Lunca laying down. This was followed by some rallying, with the wolves looking magnificent in the early Autumn sunlight....

Today's cleaning task was Duma and Dakota's sleeping area, who'd decided to leave some of last night's paunch. By now there were some cumulus clouds building and I gave a sigh of relief as I remembered my earlier bet. The cleaning took next to no time and before I knew it I was back in the Obs room, scanning things while watching the wolves. The other volunteers turned up and went off cleaning, then Tsa Palmer herself paid a visit.

So, it was off to the farmhouse (an impressive edifice) to borrow some of the late Roger Palmer's books to scan, including some ancient tomes. I also finally got to see the main offices, where the admin side of things is handled, complete with an old PC which was no longer needed... I seem to be a magnet for those things! Once spruced up I'm sure I'll find a use for it in the Obs Room, which is now looking quite high tech with all the computers and gadgets in there!

Meanwhile, the strong westerlies continued unabated, driving in cloud from the Atlantic. By now the skies were looking vaguely menacing, and I wished I'd loaded a Web browser onto my Psion so I could check the radar. Instead, we decided to take a break and headed into Duma and Dakota's enclosure.

Needless to say, the wolves quickly noticed the intruders on their territory and trotted over to greet us. The wolves were particularly enthusiastic today and I received my customary leaning, as well as several prods, nudges and licks! It was awkward as heck to get pictures with the wolves zipping around, but I tried...

Here we see Steve being mobbed by both wolves. They did a similar thing to me, but it's hard to take a picture when there are wolves brushing against you!

Duma then stood still briefly (under leaden skies):

The wolves went off elsewhere for a while, before deciding they liked the attention after all - here they are coming back for a second dose....

(Duma's leading the way as usual, with Dakota in the background).

After a glorious half hour in there, it was time to resume scanning. Eventually we finished Tsa's books and returned them, before finishing off the rest of the books that Sue had brought with her. Later this week I've the task of typing summary text for each book, but that can wait until tomorrow I feel!

With our work complete, I noticed a jar of hotdogs that had been left on the desk. I've mentioned in the past that the North American wolves love hotdogs and I decided now was the time to ask a question...

Five minutes later we were outside Kodiak and Kenai's enclosure, with Kenai seeming most reluctant to come over. Instead, we took half a hotdog each and gave Duma and Dakota a treat - the wolves were leaping up in their eagerness to get some. That did it, as Kenai (seeing what we were doing) decided that she really wanted some attention too. I'd heard various things about the old wolf, but as it turns out she was most effective at scoffing hotdogs, nibbling them in the manner of a paper shredder:

However, by now the skies were looking really quite threatening, although with no radar I wasn't sure how far away the rain was. Nonetheless, with the strong westerlies and glowering skies, this morning's sunshine seemed a distant memory.

Kodiak and Kenai howled as we headed back to the Obs Room, and that set the Euros off - they were howling as I left for the long drive home.

(As a postscript, rain was reported nearby at 17z, barely half an hour after I left. Looks I left just in time, as the journey back to Kent was dry throughout).

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