Any visit to Islay in mid October is bound to coincide with the migration south from Iceland of Whooper Swans, especially when there is a north wind blowing. It is an incredible sight to watch more than 150 Swans feeding amongst Grey Lag Geese in a recently harvested field of Barley.
A week later than last year but at long last the first local Redwings have arrived. Unfortunately the Hawthorne and Rowan berries are very few this year so they may not stay around too long.At roost time I watched two entering a neighbours Holly bush – a safe place away from our local Barn Owls
Only once before have I found the nest of a pair of House Martins with young still being fed in the nest in October. Last week on a day of pouring rain I watched two young House Martins plucking up the courage to leave the nest and fly to Africa. It was an appalling day and when I checked the nest on the 2nd October they were gone so I wished them well on their flight south. Will they return to Castleton next year? lets hope so.
What a surprise! As every nature-lover is aware this year has been the worst ever for butterflies. The wet, cold spring has been to blame so last weeks five days of warmth and sunshine was a bonus. In our garden only one butterfly appeared and it was a 56 year first – a Holly Blue! It spent more than twenty minutes on one of the garden plants and has not reappeared since!!
After last weeks photos of the male Barn Owl it is now time to catch up with three of the five young that have now fledged from this amazing pair of Barn Owls – the most successful pair in Greater Manchester this year. They now have to catch prey themselves and learn to recognise all the dangers associated with man. I wonder how many of them will still be alive next year?
It is now more than six months since my local male Barn Owl has had to provide food for his family. Firstly he feeds the female for four weeks while she incubates the eggs. Then he finds food for the five young for at least ten weeks while they are in their nest-box. Finally, he has to provide food for another six weeks while they learn to catch their own prey and become independent. We are now up to the latter stage and in sixty years I have never spent as much time filming one species.