October

Early October brought strong Easterlies and with them the first waves of Redwings quickly followed by large flocks of noisy, chattering Fieldfares swooping greedily onto berry heavy bushes. The last Swallows soon drifted away and Autumn was suddenly upon us. Bramblings gathered with Chaffinches and Greenfinches and feasted in the Whitebeams and Beeches near Ivinghoe Beacon car park and a few Northern Wheatear lingered on the sheep cropped southern slope of the Beacon feeding up before eventually heading south.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, Ivinghoe Beacon (04/09/2010)

Ring Ouzels were regularly reported from the hills throughout the first half of the month but despite several attempts I managed only a shadowy glimpse of one of these enigmatic thrushes, skulking deep within a Hawthorn bush. Marsh Tits were conspicuous and vocal in some of the gardens where I work and overhead, small bouncing flocks of Siskins were a regular sight. A pair of kronking, playful Ravens were a frequent and welcome sight in the St Leonards area along with the usual Red Kites and Common Buzzards. In early October we spent an exciting weekend birding on the North Norfolk coast. Migration was in full swing and Redwings, Starlings and Bramblings were pouring in from Scandinavia on the back of a stiff East wind and the bushes were alive with Robins and Chaffinches. We found a Great Grey Shrike as well as a smart Hooded Crow, and twitched an Olive-backed Pipit, a long overdue British first for me. Despite low water levels and vast expanses of mud, Wilstone Reservoir attracted few waders of note. Nervous flocks of Golden Plover began gathering with Lapwing on the causeway and the occasional bold Water Rail ventured from the safe haven of the reed bed into the open to feed. A Black-necked Grebe was present in the latter half of the month and the regular pair of feral Whooper Swans graced us with an occasional appearance. The month ended with the incongruous sighting of a lone Gannet flying south over Rammamere Heath a few miles north of Dunstable.

Mammals activity stepped up with the approach of winter. Grey Squirrels were industriously burying nuts and digging up freshly planted bulbs and Badgers began their annual destruction of lawns as they searched relentlessly for Leatherjackets and Chafer grubs. The rut was in full swing and Ashridge Forest echoed to the gutteral cries of Fallow Deer stags as they postured and swaggered through the rusty Bracken against a vivid backdrop of Autumn colours. I had a close encounter with a nervous Roe stag in Whiteleaf Woods and a few sightings of Chinese Water Deer knee deep in the mud on the far side of Wilstone Reservoir.

As October progressed Butterflies and Dragonflies faded away, although some warm spring-like weather late in the month provided the cheerful sight of a few Red Admirals and a very late Small White.

Common Bonnet Mycena galericulata, Whipsnade Heath (30/10/2010)

Much of the month was spent in the grip of Fungi fever. I made several forays into the woods in search of Mushrooms and Toadstools and attempted, often in vain to identify the bewildering array of species I came across. It is certainly a battle and one I am currently losing! As I found out many are virtually impossible to identify without dissection or the application of various chemicals to determine the colour they turn, neither of which I have the patience or inclination to do!

The Autumn colours have been stunning this year and the month ended bathed in warm sunshine that sparked a forest fire of red, yellow and gold.