The swallows have definitely left now, the odd straggler around, possibly the late brood feeding up before leaving. Heard a Little owl during the night, the first I’ve heard this autumn. Various warblers on the move as well: willow warblers, chiffchaffs, and blackcaps.
Tag: nature
It might be my over active imagination, but golden hour seems to be continuing longer after sunrise than I’d normally expect. I wonder if there are enough particulates from the US wildfires in the atmosphere here to cause a noticeable effect?
Am making the most of watching and listening to our swallows before they depart for South Africa. I shall miss having them around.
In case you wondered….Why wasps become so annoying at the end of summer
Took the day off on Monday for a family birthday. Went for a walk in a Wiltshire nature reserve we discovered last year. So very peaceful. Much needed.
Went for a short family walk on the Wiltshire Downs that turned into a respectable 6k. Wildflowers and birds and a big sky. Skylark, whitethroat, blackcap, yellow hammer, corn bunting and willow warbler.
Took this photo from a long barrow. And according to the map, crossed a Roman road. History beneath our feet.
A family walk this morning. Took a trip out to the Somerset Levels, now that we are allowed to travel a bit more.
Lots of birds – but no cuckoos. Swifts, sedge warblers, curlews, reed buntings, skylarks, egrets and swans.
Meadows looking lovely. Lots of flowers including orchids (Southern Marsh?).
Drama in the garden when we returned. Birds giving alarm calls – turned out a great spotted woodpecker was having a crack at the box where the great tits are nesting.
It hammered a hole in the underside and get at the young chicks – grisly. Think it got one and killed a second.
Managed to effect a temporary repair using a flattened baked bean tin and wire. Hopefully it will hold out enough to keep the woodpecker off. Later saw one of the adult great tits hauling the remains of a dead chick out. Am hoping the remaining two will survive.
