As soon as the crop of Acorns has gone in the Countryside the Jays will descend on our gardens. Peanuts are the attraction and this last week we have had at least three competing for the spoils. The light has been quite poor but some photos are in this weeks gallery. www.facebook.com/gordon

The true heralds of our Autumn are the arrival of Redwings from Scandinavia. Decades ago you could always predict an arrival by 30th September/1st October. In recent times it has been considerably later with last years date being the 13th October and this years the 16th October. I wonder how much of this delay is due to Global warming? Or is it purely a matter of prevailing winds? Something to ask the Global Warming summit in Glasgow next week!! www.facebook.com/gordon for gallery photos

In 1975 I filmed my first pair of Sparrowhawks at the nest. It was a wonderful experience and I have watched dozens more since then but none have compared to the male that visited our garden last week. To quote a phrase he was an absolute textbook gem – in other words he was feather perfect with no white feathers showing on his back and a superb orange breast. Ironically on the same day a first year male also visited the garden and this weeks gallery photos illustrate the vast differences in plumage. www.facebook.com/gordon

Where else would you wish to watch Kingfishers and Kites than from a Hot-tub on the River Dee in Wales. A break at Rivercatcher has this to offer and does it really matter that it rained during most of our recent week-end stay!! photos  taken earlier  see:  www.facebook.com/gordon

I have never classed myself as a twitcher but I was recently drawn to Yorkshire to see a bird called a White Tailed Lapwing – and yes I had never heard of it either!! It breeds in the Middle East and normally migrates further east for Winter. It was only the tenth ever recorded in Britain and a first for Yorkshire. I spent two hours in the public hide and really enjoyed filming an unusual subject in perfect conditions. See photos in Gallery.

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This is now the time of year when there is an abundance of Autumn fruits.
This weeks blog photo is of a Whitethroat feeding on Raspberries. That bird has now moved on and in its place we have Wood Pigeons devouring Elderberries – both adults and juveniles. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife for gallery photos