Rain!

Early Tuesday 5mm rain then another 6mm overnight and more on Wednesday and Thursday, about 20mm so far according to my rain gauge, not enough to sink far into the dry clay;  still, it's a start and has enlivened the river and the birds!

Boldings Brook from shelter under an old oak tree.

Today just a quick look along the bank - a softly calling family group of 8 long-tailed tits were foraging in the tree tops amongst many blue tits and great tits, some of the latter calling. About 15 house sparrows were chattering quietly in their hedge whilst 5 robins, some singing and others 'chinking', are obviously preparing for fights over territory by the sound of it. Wrens were quiet but now more easily visible (4) as the leaves fall, as were blackbirds (5), most rooting under leaves close to the water where the earth has remained damp. In the oaks above, 2 nuthatch were calling and about 40 woodpigeons flew across the field into the trees. Chaffinches (4) and some hidden calling greenfinches were occupying a mixed thicket. Calls from a great spotted woodpecker came from a tree just across the river and there were some fine views of a second one listening in an old ash tree. A group of 6 pied wagtails flew across calling and a green woodpecker took a short flight from an oak into the open, silently for once.

In the background, noisy diggers worked on moving earth from one place to another, metal fencing protecting the trees, thickets, and riverside vegetation.