Into November

         It has been a glorious Autumn for colour. The mild conditions have allowed trees to keep their leaves for longer and the displays of yellows and oranges have lasted right through to the start of this month. The Silver Birches, Beeches and Hazels have put on great displays, only now just starting to end with recent winds stripping them of their leaves. It has been a good years too for fungi although sadly most of the edible ones have not lasted long for us to find many; slugs and mice often get there first.

         It has been a very quiet time for birds in the wood; it concerns me that bird flu may well be having an impact on the numbers present. If so, it would be hard to detect as small birds would die quietly hidden away and their corpses would be hard to find. Only time will tell. Some of the winter migrants like Redwings and Fieldfares are yet to arrive. They migrate here as colder weather drives them out of Scandinavia and this year the cold has yet to arrive. When they do get here, there are plenty of Holly berries waiting for them.

        I have been checking out some of the nest boxes in the wood and getting the Tawny Owl box cleared out. Grey Squirrels have a habit of taking the box for themselves and stuffing it with leaves and twigs, which the owls do not like at all. It is a constant battle to keep them away. The owls did not use the box last year for this reason. I hope to do better with it this year by being more vigilant. Woodpeckers, lovely birds as they are, can be a nuisance too. The Great Spotteds find wooden boxes very easy to get into and then take take the young inside to feed their own chicks. I like to use the tougher "Woodcrete" boxes but even then the woodpeckers have a good go at them, chipping away with their strong beaks. Why they persist in trying is a mystery, surely it gives them serious headaches.

A box hammered by woodpeckers. They did not get in !

 a new box installed

The owl box cleared out

Shades of Autumn

Beech leaves always give good colour

Silver Birches

Sweet Chestnut leaves

Colour on the ground too

  

Jobs done.....time for a break