A superb autumnal morning, with a chill in the air, bright sunshine and a gentle northerly breeze – just perfect for a long walk – however my patrol fairly short as I kept stopping to look and work that needs to be added to the programme and to enjoy the surroundings!
In the woods the colours of the leaves are changing, the Horse Chestnuts now a golden brown, and many fallen to be crunched underfoot. The Beech leaves also turning, while Sycamores are later to undertake this activity.
Hopping through the leaves of one of the London Planes was a Jay, flashes of blue wing to be admired (through binoculars as the tree is very tall!), as this member of the crow family flew off the white rump easy to spot before it perched once more on an Elm.
A high pitched sound caught my attention and after a bit of searching the tiny form of a Goldcrest came into view as it flitted around the leaves of Black Poplar.
Over the landslip a Raven was gliding, the large black shape distinguished by size, the heavy bill, wedge shaped tail and the long ‘fingers’ at the end of its wings. To cap it all it then croaked - a deep call.
A Blackcap moving about in the Elder tree, most of the berries on this one now gone, while in the adjacent Holm Oak a Chiffchaff hopped about, one of many spotted today.
More flocks of Goldfinches alighting and taking flight, a whirr of wing activity as they dropped and took off again, blacks, reds, whites and golds accompanied by a constant twitter!
As the dark evenings get longer, the nocturnal species easier to see. Great views of a Badger last night as it trundled along, huffing as it passed me.
A Roe Deer also heard, the clatter of its feet on the path as it trotted, while from a nearby tree the hooting of a Tawny Owl. Flashing overhead a couple of Pipistrelle Bats.