Low pressure covers the North Sea with a northerly flow over the UK. Conditions at 12z (1PM BST): Thickness, 554dam, temperature 17C (dewpoint 13C). Wind from the north, 5 MPH. Today's high, 18C, last night's low 13C (source: MetO, the 12z GFS and NOAA).

We're currently in the "Dog Days of Summer", so called because Sirius, the dog star, rises and sets at the same time as the sun. Traditionally they were thought to be the warmest days of the year but there was little sign of that yesterday! It was grey and overcast here in Leysdown with temperatures around 12C, on the cool side for July.

As usual I headed westwards and I arrived without incident in Beenham at ten to nine, to find a locked gate. Another volunteer arrived and then John, our safety officer, turned up to let us in and to let the wolves out.


View to the south, Beenham, 0750z

Duma went up onto the mound and howled, which set the other wolves off. The catalyst is often the church bells and last week I recorded Duma howling in the pouring rain at the bells - for some reason I forgot to put the file online, so here it is:

http://www.medvale.net/wolves/05-07-31/july.mp3


Duma

John went in to see the Euros and then it was time to head off for cleaning; as last week I helped with Kodiak and Kenai's quarters. However, when Clive and I arrived there we were greeted by sniffing noises - for the first time we were to let the wolves out. For K&K it involves raising some portcullis type gates and as usual Kodiak was first out, closely followed by his sister. With the wolves out we were able to complete the cleaning, which didn't take too long.


Kenai checking on her visitors


Kodiak, drinking from the hose

As ever at the Trust there's other work to be done and with the cleaning out of the way it was decided to tidy the mound in Duma and Dakota's enclosure.


The volunteers hard at work

Once everyone had finished there the wolves went around and scent-marked the denuded mound, indeed they seemed quite interested in the whole affair.


Dakota and Duma

By now it was half twelve - time to head off to the woods in preparation for the members walk. The wolves arrived earlier than usual and the walk set off at around a quarter past one. As usual the guests were asked to line up so the wolves could sniff them - here's a picture of Dakota, with her tail wagging as she went along.


Dakota meets the walkers

The walk proceeded much as usual until we got a phonecall from some latecomers who'd got lost - so I was sent back to find them. It's amazing how fast those wolves go and it took some time before we caught up with the main group! We arrived back just before the "stump talk", which is where the visitors get a talk about wolves and the Trust, plus the oppertunity to ask questions.


Gerry delivers the "stump talk"...


...while the wolves get a break

It was then time to handle and this week I was with Duma. We went along the side of the lake which is fun enough normally, let alone with a wolf! Duma decided she wanted to go into the lake briefly and have a drink of its water, although she didn't stay in for long. I handed over the lead for her swim a bit later on, then there were some "meet and greets" for people to come up and stroke her. She started off with a soggy belly but it dried up in no time!

All too soon the walk came to an end and I made a swift departure for the Trust to set up the equipment in the Obs Room ready for the visitors. The rest of the day went much as usual, with the guests coming back for refreshments and a tour of the centre. Finally, just after five I set off for home, driving through some heavy rain at times. Needless to say the Island had avoided rain all day, but at least it's no longer the dustbowl it was a couple of weeks ago!

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