A Time To GO

The last of this years fledged Swallows are now on the wires in our avenue and contemplating the long journey down to South Africa. I often wonder how many will make it and return next spring to breed as adults close to where they were born. It is a figure that we will never know but I fear that it will be only a small percentage. I wish them well.

My first Pink Footed Geese of autumn were thirty flying north-west on the 26th – it seems a strange direction to be going! Along the local canal four Herons were roosting close together on the 25th. The sunshine this last week has brought a late showing of butterflies like Comma, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood.

As Hen Harriers are always in the news these days this weeks gallery is of a female at the nest with her recently hatched young. The eye colour of the female Hen Harrier is only yellow in her fifth year and this bird is three years old and probably breeding for the second time. With the present persecution threat she may never reach a full adult. Lets hope so. Click here