There was a real nip to the wind today as I wandered the patch, the sun was doing her best to fight back the autumnal chill in the air and when I found a sheltered pocket she did her job beautifully, the odd spot felt positively summer, and then you'd be hit by the wind again and be reminded that it is indeed autumn.
Sadly the day was another day where the parks trust had tractors on site, trimming back the weedy edges (or manicuring the heck out of nature, you decide!), so the bird life was very disturbed, and in many cases non-existent. I do have to question why, at a time when small birds are moving through the country looking for food, the nature reserve is having all the seedy headed weeds hacked down and removed.
With the bird life thin on the ground (or water) fortunately there were other aspects of nature to stir my passions, Common Darter are reaching their peak, with each foot step along the sun warmed path sending at least one of these ruddy brown, masters of the air, into flight.
Common Darter
Red Admirals could be found feeding in among the late bees and hoverflies, on the ivy bushes dotted around, and Small Coppers sunned themselves on the late dandelions, the clashes of bright orange, subtle browns and glorious yellows a sight for sore eyes.
Small Copper
Red Underwing moth on one of the gate signs
Flyover birds seemed to be the main interest left in the avian world, small parties of Linnet and Skylark could be seen or heard as they passed through, the odd duck party would occasionally move in or out of the lakes, and a lone buzzard suffered constant harassment from the resident corvids.
Wigeon in Flight
Rook in Flight
Young Green Woodpecker
My favorite bird of the day was a young Kestrel who hovered over random spots of the nature reserve, the skills of a real aerial master as it hung, it's head dead still, while the wings battered the air holding position while the birds sharp eyes surveyed the ground.
Hovering Kestrel
Swooping Kestrel
Flyby Kestrel
After nearly falling asleep in the aqueduct hide (a combination of the peace today seemed to hold and having worked a night shift) I decided enough was enough and headed home.
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