Early Autumn Nature Notes

There is adefinite nip in the air now that autmn is rapidly approaching. Trees are starting to change colour as their leaves take on seasonal hues and the breeze has a distinct edge.

The surrounding paths are showing much evidence of badger activity as these night timevisitors gorge themselves on berries,putting on fat for the lean winter months ahead. An old hawthorn log behind the house is being gradually ripped apart as the badgers seek out grubs from its rotten interior.

Hedgerows are alive with mixed parties of finches looking for seeds in the field margins and amongst the stubble still to be ploughed in after completion of the harvest. The declining tree sparrow can be seen in some numbers for those who care to look carefully along with brambling, goldfinch and siskin. The contact calls of whitethroats rasp from deep within the tangle of branches and, though quiet after the summer seranading, the occaisional skylark can still be seen over the fields. The first golden plover have arrived gracing the sky just outside the village with accompanying parties of lapwings.

North of the village, from the path to the cowsheds, a roe hind with a youngster in tow can be seen each evening as she moves cautiously into the open from the surrounding woodland. Her fawn jumps and skips like an over-sized lamb under the watchful eye of its mother. They are finally lost from view as the sun sets over the distant hills and the evening moves into night.