The weather has become very mild and unseasonably warm over the last few days, but unfortunately without clear blue skies. Heavy cloud has draped itself across the south, and at time this has become mist and fog. The wind has been somewhere between south and south westerly, and to cap all this we are told we will get the remnants of a hurricane early into next week.
So what effect has this had on the wildlife around Four Marks? Well very little to be true. The one noticeable feature though is that the leaves are changing and falling quite quickly, this being a little earlier than in recent years.
I decided to walk through Old Down with the objective of looking for fungi. As I walked along Brislands I could hear, and had brief views of Jays as they foraged in the oak trees. Coming out into the open as I walked towards Old Down, seep calls above produced four Redwing heading to the west. The fields were also busy with Meadow Pipits, and I could also make out the sub song of one or two Skylarks.
Mixed in with the Meadow Pipits were Yellowhammer, and a small group settled in the tree alongside the road.
Walking through the woods there were groups of Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests calling from the tops of the trees. I took the north perimeter track, but it quickly became clear that there was hardly any fungi about other than the bracket fungi on the fallen branches. There has been a distinct decline in fungi here over the last three years, in fact after the forestry work. Its disappointing, and difficult to understand why.
I could hear the begging calls of a bird of prey coming from the adjacent field, and stepped out onto the edge of the wood to get a better look. As I did so I could see the long and lazy wings of a Red Kite lifting up from the field. It has recently been ploughed and was probably providing some earthworms as an easy snack. I followed the Kite as it spiraled up from the ground. This is an immature bird, from this year's brood, and was also probably the owner of the begging calls.
It spiraled, taking it out against a background of the fields
Gaining height.
Then one became three, with two other birds coming from the other direction.
The fields over towards the Watercress Line were being ploughed and drilled, and the kites drifted in that direction to join the many Gulls all looking for an easy meal.
I walked back through the wood, and up the main path which is now overgrown. Because the farmer has ploughed to the edge of the wood, where the footpath should come out it means walking through the soil. People have now created another path which comes out close to the stile leading down into the Desmond Paddocks. As a result the main path is not walked that much and the bramble and nettles have taken over.
Past the Ash trees and leading up to the crossroads, the path opens out a little more.
As I turned towards Swellinghill Pond a Buzzard drifted over the tops of the trees.
At Swellinghill Pond there were now only four Mallard, so this year there does not seem to have been the build up we have seen over the last three years. The pond was very quiet, a typical autumnal scene.
I walked down the lane, turning towards the school. As I walked into Gradwell a Red Admiral was feeding on the ivy. There had been quite a few Red Admirals about today, all on the wing, but this was the first settled one.
As well as the Red Admiral the other notable insect seen today was the Hornet. In Old Down there were several about, buzzing past showing off the yellow and red colours, and looking quite big.
I continued to hear the raucous calls of Jays above us, why is it such beautiful birds have such an ugly call? The Jays were not alone in collecting the acorns though. Walking through the woods you could hear rustling in the leaves, and every so often movement through the branches. The Grey Squirrels are busy at this time, and as I came along Brislands towards home one took the time to sit on a branch above me.
Despite the heavy cloud the sun was trying, and every so often there would a brief spell of sunshine, but during the afternoon the clouds finally rolled back and there was blue sky. The Red Admirals were still about, and with the sunshine became attracted to the buddleia flowers in the garden.
There was also a Small Tortoiseshell that didn't stay, but a Large White that did.
As well as the butterflies there were also bees and this White-tailed Bumblebee was also taking advantage of the nectar in the buddleia.
October continues to be yet another strange month. It is not just here locally that it seems to be quiet, the autumn has not been that productive around Hampshire. It just seems that all the good stuff is on either side of us, and we are being missed. Winter is now not that far away, the Tawny Owls are calling in the early morning in Reads Field, and pretty soon the garden will be full of birds on the feeders.
A weekend of two halves, wet and windy on Saturday followed by a calm, warm and sunny day on Sunday. Saturday saw me braving the elements at Farlington Marshes, where the best bird of the day was a Red Kite over the house when I returned home. Through the last week the Swallow has remained at the horse paddocks on Alton Lane, last being seen on the 5th, while the calls of Chiffchaffs have continued with even one in the garden on Sunday. The Roe Deer continue to graze in the field alongside Gradwell Lane. Despite some extensive listening over the last few days there has not been any sign of the autumn's first Redwing, I am sure though that it will not be long before their distinctive call is heard.
A feature of the garden over the last few days has been the large flock of Goldfinches that have been present. As ever they will collect in the surrounding trees and then drop down to the feeders. On Saturday afternoon the feeders were all occupied with sixteen birds using the available perches, while in the trees I counted 23 birds making a total of 39 present which is the largest count I have ever had.
Monday saw a return to the gloom and was mixed as well with a drizzly rain. The Starlings have been building up in numbers, and the odd few can be seen flying around the houses and settling on the TV aerials at dusk. This morning, I noticed for the first time that they have acquired their winter plumage, the entire plumage densely sprinkled with yellowish-white spots.
The attraction this morning were the last remaining berries on the Rowan.
Once again the weather is not helping in bringing in the birds, but there are signs that we could be in for an Indian Summer into next week.
On a late afternoon run, there were Redwings calling over Telegraph Lane....winter is coming!
Today we said goodbye to the man who has had the most influence on my life. In all aspects, my education, my sporting success, and my love of the outdoors. We will all miss him so much, but my Dad goes to be with my Mum, and I know that somewhere they will be watching over us all.
When we arrived at the house this morning, and pulled back the blinds, there in full bloom was a single red rose, through out the summer I have not seen a rose flowering in the garden. A coincidence I know but a lovely one.
Mum and Dad rest in peace, love you both very much
It has been a strange September, normally we are treated to a warm dry spell, but this year it has been a real mixture, with warm, cold wet and dry spell. Around here it needs the warm and sunny weather to bring something out, and this month I have only been able to get out on one of those days.
The month though, did end with a good sighting. While out on one of our walks on Thursday I noticed a bird of prey over the houses as we walked around Badger Close. At first I thought it was a Buzzard, but something about the way it was flying was not as you would expect from a Buzzard. There was a long tail, plus long wings, not the bulky type you would see in a Buzzard. I ran up the hill to get a better look, and as it banked away with the wings in a classic "V", I could see the pale colour on the head and the leading edge of the wings. It was a Marsh Harrier, and it drifted away to the south and finally out of view.
Of course no camera, or binoculars but the identification was solid for me, and another bird of prey to add to an impressive list locally, and a new bird for the patch.
As well as this surprise there have been sightings of Swallow all week, and the continued calls of Chiffchaffs in the trees. The House Martins in Reads Field all seem to have now moved on, and we are left with the small groups of Starlings whirling around the rooftops, attempting murmarations just before dusk
Today though was the first of October, a new month and hopefully a little more productive. The weather though was not playing ball, and we awoke to rain. In fairness we had been expecting it as the warnings were that we would be getting the remnants of Hurricane Maria. Remnants was probably right all we had in the way of wind was a brisk southerly. By midday the rain had stopped and I took the chance to pop out to start the month off.
As I walked along Brislands there was a breeze, but it was a mild wind. It was though blowing the leaves about, and it now felt like autumn was well and truly with us. These overcast conditions though, once again, seemed to keep everything quiet. There was the odd sequence of Robin song every so often, but apart from that very quiet. As I reached the junction with Gradwell a Jay called from the Ash tree on the corner. Always a shy bird this time of year is the best time to see them as they are caching acorns to see through the winter.
As always the Jay managed to hide in amongst the leaves and I was nable to get a better view. Leaving the Jay another animal collecting nuts ran along the top of a gate, this one a Grey Squirrel, and it was carrying hazel nuts.
As I reached the entrance to Old Down, several Meadow Pipits flew over calling, and heading out into the middle of the field. Scanning out across the field I could see a Buzzard drifting lazily above what was probably the A31. As I stood watching the Buzzard, I heard scuffling close by and this cock Pheasant appeared looking quite smart.
The walk through the mud in the wood could have been made a little more easier if there had been anything to see or even hear. It was though almost completely quiet. Normally I would hear the call of a Wren, or the song of a Robin, or a Blackbird would fly across in front of me, but today, all I heard were two calls from an invisible Chiffchaff.
From the wood I headed to the pond, as I approached I could see two Moorhens on the water, and walking around the outside I first found six Mallard.
Then a little further round another two. There were six drakes and two ducks, the ducks seemingly paired up. This is now the highest count here, eight. The high numbers usually peak around the this week of October, so there is still time for the numbers to build up.
Again it was quiet around the pond so I walked on, and came across a patch of trees where there were repeated Chiffchaff calls, and also those belonging to Blue and Great Tits. I decided to stand and wait to see if something would show. I had some brief views of the tits, but I was hoping to see the warblers. One flew out to catch a fly, but disappeared back into the leaves.
Finally I managed some brief views of a Chiffchaff as it moved through the branches.
I waited but I was not going to get a better view, and as it had started to rain again. Walking on I headed back down toward the school. In the field were Woodpigeons feeding, and another Pheasant close to the hedges.
I turned up Gradwell, again in silence, and in fact all the way home I can't recall any bird song or calls at all. The dry spell though had come to an end, and the drizzle had returned, so I should be thankful that at least I had some time out. Not much to show for it though, and I hope October does not continue where September left off.
