I hate

Capchtas.

Specifically the ones that are getting a bit too esoteric.

"Pick the images of plants that were given as presents, but received with poorly inferred intent."

"Pick all of the images where the person is concerned by their sibling's poor life choices"

I had one ask me to prove I was human by doing maths the other day, but robots are surely better at maths than most humans?

The machines are learning from you
Just saying

Acorns. Specifically the millions of the bastards on the cycle paths that turn every corner into a coin toss about whether you can get around without sliding off.

This year has been particularly prolific for acorns. We have oak trees all around us, Monday I cleared them all off the patio around our house, three days later and it’s entirely covered again. Our dogs also eat them acorns, as if they are some kind of Spanish pig.

Have oak trees shed a) more than usual and b) done so earlier this year?

They've been plaguing London League CX events, turning certain corners into a lottery for crashes. I don't ever remember it being this noticeable before.

All the squirrels migrated because of Brexit.

Prolific acorn production may be an evolutionary response to the water stress experienced by most broad leafed trees this Summer in England.
Not enough water gives rise to early leaf loss to try and avoid transpiration losses.
The tree may interpret the drought conditions as ' this is unusual and life threatening, maximise acorn production with a hope that some germinate and eventually give rise to fertile acorn producing trees'.

Also last year, at least in outer north west London, seemed to be 'down' year for acorn production.

I have no recollection of the acorn production in 1976.

Have oak trees shed a) more than usual and b) done so earlier this year?

Have definitely noticed this

Yes. Each year we notice different species are in ascendence, be it flora or fauna. Last year we had multiple wasp and hornets nests, this year only one wasp nest. Wild flowers were in abundance this year, but we had less nettles. Our lawn is like walking on marbles due to all the acorns right now.

A really clear potential explanation, thank you.

More resource, more animals to eat it, resource goes into decline, animals go hungry and reduce colony size, fewer animals cause excess of resource, bountiful resource causes more predators to emerge, repeat.

Like this

1 Attachment

Thanks for your thanks.
Based upon observations of oak trees around Ruislip.
Also, not verifiable, but this years' acorns seem to be larger,
more protrusion beyond the cup,
than last years'.

+1 to all the above. Size and volume of acorns has been ridiculous this year. Clear them up, puff of wind and right back to where you were.

I'm hoping that prolific acorns is a foreshadowing of prolific chestnuts.

It won't be.

Well explained. I read that it isn't just trees...a lot of plants go into panic breed/survival mode if they think they are at risk of dying.

People that reply to posts but don't press the reply button so you haven't a fucking clue which comment they are replying to.

Yeah me too

I know, boils my piss that.

edit: sorry @stevo_com

Who were you replying to?

Some users are pretty sensitive about being tagged though 👀

plaguing London League CX events, turning certain corners into a lottery for crashes.

🖐️I may have watched you fall off on Off Camber Acorn Corner in Crystal Palace Park last weekend

Lies!

(As I said, it was a lottery and I had a winning ticket).

@fredtc on the other hand...