Some autumn changes have been rapid but the Oaks are notably slow to change this year. The day of the survey, 29th September 2021 was cold at first warming up later. Some hedges held abundant Hawthorn berries, but most vegetation remaining green with Oaks standing strong with no brown leaves and no acorns, The lack of acorns has been explained as being caused by torrential rain on the Oak flowers earlier in the year. The effects of the recent gales could be seen from the Ash leaves scattered on the ground and the fast running river but leaving most other trees untouched.
There were still strong-flying insects about such as four Red Admiral butterflies, seven Large White butterflies, a Comma butterfly and a Small Copper butterfly; Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawkers and some active Common Darter dragonflies about in the sun together with numerous small insects in amongst the grasses and remaining flowers, Craneflies were very visible.
Small Copper butterfly and Hoverfly on Fleabane flowers
Most flowering plants had gone to seed, with Thistle and Knapweed attracting the birds, together with Dock.
The most numerous birds seen today were House Sparrows (54) in groups in the hedgerows, Blue Ts (32) and Great Ts (16). Earlier in the week there had been a large 'Roaming Flock' of small birds ranging along the riverbank thickets answering the question: "where have all the small birds gone?" Robins, now becoming more obvious and therefore appearing more numerous, do not normally flock together but defend their chosen territories, usually heard first and then seen (27 today). Three Dunnock, also non-flocking were seen along the verge of a pathway. Four Chiffchaff were present along a hedge merging now and again with groups of other small birds and a single Blackcap heard calling not far away. Blackbirds were now reappearing and 8 were seen, one together with three Songthrushes which have been quite scarce over the late summer. No sign of the migrant thrushes such as Fieldfare or Redwing here yet.
Nine Starling were seen, most in an audible group.
Seven Magpies, one Jay, two Jackdaws, and two Carrion Crows were seen in the air at various times
with the clouds gradually thickening, not a suitable time for basking although
28 Woodpigeons were seen amongst the dense leaves of the Oaks along the banks. and a pair of
Collared Doves amongst old Ivy branches. Distant calls revealed a
Grey Heron in the air and
a Buzzard was seen banking north in the wind then turning south.
Seven Herring Gulls flew in all directions over the school and not far away
a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across into an Oak.
The smallest birds seen today were three silent wrens, a Long-Tailed T, one Goldcrest in a conifer and a single Goldfinch on its way across to join a group hidden in a thicket.
Lastly a
Sparrowhawk was seen in the air dashing along a conifer tree margin. House Sparrows had already dropped silently down into the safety of a bramble patch.
Will the survey for the end of October see autumn's touch on the Oaks?
