Autumn

The summer months draw to a close with an explosion of colour and vibrancy. Autumn signals the beginning of the hunting season: high tides and short days. Leaves twist and curl and berries, nuts and seeds are collected at pace by the birds and animals, preparing for the winter onslaught.

The fields and meadows start to green up as the rain falls on sun-dried fields. Young birds and animals have passed their vulnerable stage and hastily feed up, to survive the next few months.

There is much to see at this time of the year, which becomes even more visible as the leaves fall and the Autumn progresses. The late broods of migratory birds wing their way south, many will not make it this late in the year but, if the weather is favorable, they will have a chance and we may see them again next year. The squirrel's dray becomes visible if you know where to look, and hedgehogs commence their hibernation, deep in the undergrowth.

Stubble fields provide a feeding ground for flocks of wild birds, such as partridge, pheasants, finches and skylarks.  All can live together in this ecosystem when farmers leave the stubble as it used to be in 'the old days'.

Margins round the fields and taller, thicker hedges provide habitats for numerous birds, insects and mammals.

Northern migratory birds, such as geese, redwings, waxwings and field fares come in for the Autumn feast.