10th September - September And The Trees Are Restless, Wind Chimes Blow In The Dark

Early morning there was some sunshine, but this gave way to overcast clouds, and a fresh breeze.  I haven't been out locally for well over a month, so it was with interest Helen and I set off this morning.  It was though necessary to put warmer clothes on, where has the summer gone?

As we walked up Brislands Lane a pair of Collared Doves were sitting together on a TV aerial.  I much prefer looking at these doves than the bulky and common Woodpigeons.

Another sign of a rapidly approaching autumn were the Cyclamen flowers around the cemetery hedge, a spot where they appear every year.

We headed up Brislands with the melancholy sound of the Robin's song were with us all the way.  The only other bird song came from the calls of Rooks and Jackdaws.  The wood was very quiet, the odd call from a Chiffchaff, and a few flocks of Long-tailed Tits was about all we heard.  The vegetation looked very tired, and in places the leaves are starting to change colour, but we are still a long way off from them falling en mass, but some were drifting about on the breeze.

We headed west, and I hoped for maybe something around the ash  trees, but again nothing.  It wasn't until we came to the field at the west end that we heard anything, this time the call of a Buzzard overhead.  Coming out of the wood, the Buzzard flew past us.

Walking down through Desmond Paddocks the calls of Buzzards continued from behind us over the top of the wood.  These were probably this year's juvenile begging relentlessly to parents to feed them.

Walking through the paddocks there was a large flock of Rooks and Jackdaws settled in the field, they all took off as we passed and settled in the adjoining field with the sheep.

We walked up Andrews Lane, with the brief call of Jays as they searched

 for acorns, and more Buzzards above us.  Blue and Great Tits were in the hedges, but there was no sign of any swallows at the horse stables.

Looking out across the paddocks we could see Swallows and House Martins high over the trees, but that was it, not even a Magpie, which are usually here.  Further up the hill and there were many House Martins around the old house.  Where the track was rutted with canyons created by the rain, it has all be evened out, making the walk so much easier.

At the top of the hill in the field with sheep grazing there were swallows swooping around the sheep.

These Swallows lacked the tail streamers seen on the adult birds, and were probably juvenile birds.

We walked on towards Lye Way where there were more Swallows, and of course a large flock of Woodpigeon.  But in amongst the Woodpigeons was a single Stock Dove.  This is the first time I have managed to find Stock Dove around the patch at this time of year.

As we walked down Lye Way back into the village it started to rain, this was a little earlier than we had expected, and fortunately it didn't last too long.  The walk back though was very quiet, the highlight being a distant Pheasant in the field opposite the school!

It has been very quiet in the garden, and very quiet around the village.  It would seem that I have not missed too much with my enforced break during August, lets hope things pick up soon.