Redwings, Goldcrest etc.

Great day for birds!

Out of the back kitchen window I watched a tiny goldcrest flitting about which pleased me immensely, however shortly after my attention was drawn to two redwings in the birch tree --- the first this autumn. We used to have huge numbers of redwings and fieldfares years ago but gradually they dwindled until this year I wondered if we would have any. Interestingly the arrival date of these birds was always the 15th October or a day or two either side but this year the first arrivals were today the 1st of December. No fieldfares yet though.

Watched two blackbirds this morning taking turns bathing in one of the bird baths, they waited patiently while the other bathed, with much flapping of wings and spraying of water, before hopping out and shaking themselves then waiting for their next turn before starting all over again.

Pleased to see two great tits spending time in and around the shrubs next to the pond this morning, also a little blue tit investigating a nesting box.

Blue and Great Tits

At last we have some tits back in the garden.

One blue and one great tit on the feeders and another great tit bathing in one of the bird baths. I have missed these pretty little birds during their absence.

I know sparrowhawks have to eat but they empty the garden, and it takes so long to build up to decent numbers again.

Stately, hungry pheasant

Watched the pheasant,mooching about the borders, turning over leaves probably searching for grubs and other delicacies.

Later I saw him again on the lawn and admired his slow and stately walk, head held high and feet lifted well clear of the ground before being placed seemingly, carefully and deliberately down. I was thinking how statesmanlike he looked when he saw me and suddenly rushed across the lawn to the window. Running  he looked far from stately and caused me much merriment. I fed him for a second time and he seemed as hungry as he had the first time.

Biscuit the Squirrel

Squirrels were late coming this morning so I opened the window and called "Biscuit", then reached in the box for two, on turning I saw one squirrel racing across the lawn to fetch it. Does he think his name is biscuit I wonder, it seems so, but in reality it is just that he associates the word with food. It is amusing though to call biscuit and have him come.

He does of course have other food as he joins in and eats from whatever else is put out for the other birds and animals.

Blue skies, yellow leaves and golden carpets

It is a bright and beautiful morning, the sky is a clear blue with not a cloud in sight, however it is much colder than it looks through the window and there is a wind not a strong one but a wind none the less, that if you stood about outside would very soon chill you.

The birch tree caught my eye this morning for the last few misty mornings I have longed for the sky to be blue, because the leaves left on the tree are brightest yellow and I knew they would look glorious against a true blue sky.

To my delight today is the day and I looked expectantly out of the window to see the beautiful birch tree, clothed in its last yellow leaves against a blue sky, I was surprised to see the leaves falling as if they were snowflakes and the tree almost bereft of leaves, but what joy, for there underneath the tree is the most amazing golden carpet of leaves calling to me to put a coat and boots on, and go and scuffle my feet through them while the last of the yellow leaves fall around me as if I am caught in a shower of golden butterflies.

Misty, moisty November weather

The weather the last few days has been typically Novemberish, with misty, moisty mornings, sometimes brightening up for a short while in the afternoon, but other times staying dull, cloudy and cold all day.On the whole though the weather for this time of year has been surprisingly mild, and there are a surprising number of flowers still in bloom.

Interestingly the days when the mist hangs heavy all day and the sun doesn't even glimmer through it, then we have a lot less activity in the garden. The squirrels are late to appear and when they do finally show up they are slower moving more sluggish. There is no bounce to their behaviour, no running , playing or chasing, it is obvious they have come out just for food, they collect it and then go back to the bushes from whence they appeared.

The birds also hide away in the foliage hardly venturing out even to feed, they are quiet and I miss their music.

However when the cloud cover breaks up and the sun breaks through  brightening everywhere, then the world of my garden changes. Almost immediately bird song fills the air, tiny wrens, blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, bullfinches, collared doves, pigeons, magpies , jays and the rest are all flying about gathering food and going about their business.

The food on the feeding stations disappears, the bird baths are filled with birds bathing and rows of birds wait on nearby bushes and branches for their turn.

The foxes are also slower to come for their food when it is colder, I suppose if they are warm in their den and it is cold outside then it is easy to tuck back down and not move until hunger drives them out to forage.

Thank goodness we don't have to forage for our food!

We still seem to be missing the tits from the garden, there is not one to be seen.

Blue Tits and Sparrowhawks

We have been back from Yorkshire for some days, but are disappointed in that time not to have seen any birds on the feeding station usually this is full of birds both feeding and waiting, but days are passing and not one comes anywhere near it.

I am convinced it must be the sparrowhawk we watched swooping over the garden nearer the beginning of the month.

We have in the past watched as the sparrowhawk has appeared as if from nowhere and time after time snatched tits while they are feeding, I wonder if this is what has happened now.

Meanwhile the berries on the cotoneaster are thicker than I have ever seen them, this is good for the fieldfares and redwings when they arrive, also for the blackbirds and thrushes now.

Hertfordshire to East Yorkshire

Our younger granddaughter has hearing difficulties and is to have a series of five operations, the first one was last month and the second is tomorrow, so we are on our way up country to be with and to support our daughter and her little family.

It is no longer golden October, but one could be forgiven for thinking it still is, everywhere I look there is so much beautiful autumn colour.

 Berries stand out brightly on trees and bushes now that leaves are really dropping. We pass many mighty oaks on the way, most of them venerable old trees standing strong and still retaining their leaves, which are turning a golden colour. Roadside hedgerows are clothed in red, yellow, green, brown and orange and an absolute delight to see.

Passing through a town we see Sumachs hanging over garden fences they are deliciously red with slight touches of yellow and orange, every autumn they look spectacular and such a delight. Beware planting them in the garden though as they happily throw up suckers and do need to be kept in check.

Travelling along the A10, I glance across fields to the near distance and smile to see many trees standing very tall and totally bereft of leaves except for the greenery on the huge balls of mistletoe clinging to their upper branches.

Many fields are once again green either because they are laying fallow or are now once more green from the haze of new crops shooting up.

We are on the A1 now and my breath is almost taken away by the bright golden orange of the verge side bushes and trees, not much  further back we had passed by a length of wayside bushes which were startling in their colour,  no golds, oranges or yellows - instead every shade of pink through to deepest maroon. This was obviously due to the type of shrub, maybe they were cornus, but whatever they were very attractive.

It is another mild day, bright with a hint of mist in the far distance, where trees and fields on the horizon are shaded with blue.

We pass many fields where brassicas are growing and in one, on the edge a tractor stood quietly awaiting the farmers next need, had he forgotten to put it away or did he usually leave it standing idly by while the crops reached ever higher up its wheels.

Just past Buckden we see a Pyracantha hedge, quite twelve feet high and maybe thirty feet long. The number of berries was staggering never have I seen a more thickly berried bush before, hopefully it will feed many hungry creatures in the cold weeks to come.

Bright red apples festoon a tree on the right hand side, while on the left we pass a stretch of trees with totally bare branches except for the top two feet which are decked in something that looks like white blossom but which is really the underside of the last leaves still clinging on. The trees because of this look quite spring like and pretty.

The sky from the right looks summery and bright, it is blue and interspersed with fluffy clouds and the sun is shining, while to the left the clouds thicken and the sky darkens. Across in the distance it grows darker still and threatening. It is two fifteen in the afternoon and the temperature is a surprising fifteen degrees.

In the distance we see great vee formations of migrating birds.

The further north we travel the browner everything looks, we have lost the sun to the clouds now and more trees and bushes have lost their leaves and the brighter colours are noticeably toned down.

A road sign tells us we are still 38 miles from Doncaster and we know we will have more miles than that to go once we reach there.We are driving through rich countryside and we pass a series of lakes in adjoining fields, with not a duck or swan to be seen on any of them. The only sign of life comes from the silver train flashing bullet like across the fields behind the lakes. On a summers day with the sparkle of sunlight highlighting the water and the train in the background and the lush green fields surrounding, this must look quite picturesque.

Just before Elkesley we pass a stand of ferns, all at least 3 feet 6 inches tall and no longer green, yellow or orange, instead they were all cream and brown and looked very beautiful.

I hope while I am in Yorkshire to walk in my daughters favourite woods and to visit nearby coastal waters. In the forest to shuffle my feet through its carpet of autumn leaves, look for funghi and smell that unique autumn smell of our woodlands. At the coast I shall walk the sands, enjoy the fresh seaside air and stand silent a while and let the music of the waves and the sound of the gulls wash over me and refresh my soul.

Life is so good, every day is a blessing.

Sparrowhawk

My breath was taken away this morning by a sparrowhawk swooping low along the lawn, it suddenly appeared and was so fast, it was gliding --- no wing movement whatsoever and it seemed as though it was no sooner here than it was gone.

I have seen it many times before and watched it take and eat birds, not just tiny birds like blue tits but also large birds like collared doves and pigeons. It is very upsetting to watch especially if it is a blackbird because they are so loudly vocal. Whereas tiny tits and even collared doves make no sound.

At first I used to hurry outside in an attempt to save the bird, but not one survived the trauma, so now I leave the sparrowhawk to eat his meal in peace.

Autumn in November and Childhood Memories

On our way to Papworth for my next scan, we are not far from home and on the left is the River Stort sinuously snaking through the green fields.

I am "blown away by the colour in the hedgerows apart from the expected greens, golds and autumn browns there are bright yellows, oranges, pinks and reds, and all alongside our own English roads, free for anyone who cares to enjoy.

Oak leaves are yellowing and acorns beginning to thickly litter the ground beneath the mostly ancient trees. It has been a very good year for acorns. Whenever I see acorns laying thickly on the ground I think how wasted they are, as pigs would so enjoy tucking into them. Then I am reminded of how as a child, I used to collect sacks full of acorns, for the pigs belonging to a smallholder, who lived a mile or so from me down a pretty winding  lane called Roundabout Lane. He much loved his pigs and would never pass them by without stopping to chat to them. Their sties were always immaculately clean and Mr. Dixon for that was his name, was obviously a kind and caring man.

It always felt magical to be sent to Mr. Dixons for eggs or to pick his fruit, my feet skipped along as I hurried to reach Roundabout Lane, then I slowed a little --- not a lot because my mother would be watching the clock and I would have to account for any minutes extra to what she thought I should have been. This was a twisty lane I was now wandering down, sometimes filled with puddles so large they were impossible to jump and I would be hard pressed to find a way round them without getting my shoes wet or muddy.

 Once I was in the lane it cast its spell on me and I knew I was safe and nothing and no-one could harm me. The lane was best when the buttercups were in full bloom and so tall, they were at my waist level and I wished and wished next time I went, that they would be above my head and the ground underfoot dry so I could walk beneath them and look up at their golden heads. They never were that tall of course, but one dry, sunny, blue skied day I did what I had longed to do, and quickly walking off the lane and on to the buttercup filled verge I lay down amongst them and for a minute or two I was lost in another world of lanes with Enid Blyton names and buttercups towering over me. No sooner had I done it than I was up and running along to Mr. Dixons to make up for lost time. I still can capture the magic feeling of those stolen few moments under the golden buttercups.

There were very few houses down Roundabout Lane and those that were there, were so pretty which added to the enchantment, I always wanted to know what was at the end of Roundabout Lane, of course I could now find out, but part of me feels it might be better not to know.

Anyway back to the present, hawthorn leaves are yellowing and falling, leaving dark red berries hanging in ones, twos and small clusters, ready for the birds to feast upon. As a child I collected and ate these berries on my way to do the shopping, I knew them as bread and cheese.

Bright red rose hips hang showily, brightening up the hedge rows.

We are startled to pass a house whose trees in the garden are decked in coloured lights, huge decorated artificial fir trees tower over the gate and on the side wall an enormous glittering notice wishes us "A Merry Christmas".

The other side of Royston where the land lies flat and one can see for miles, I notice the chalky fields have a whitish hue and the trees in them are still mainly green with touches of brown and yellow.

The Rowan trees are almost bereft of berries and past Kneesworth trees are once again all shades of yellow and green. There are large fields of brassicas on the left and an apple orchard with the bright red apples still clinging to the leafless branches.

Everywhere is so bright and beautiful, the sky is blue, dappled with clouds and the sun is strongly shining. Toward Papworth Everard trees are almost bereft of leaves and everywhere looks tired and browner.