It's that time of year....

It seems it's a while since I posted a blog. It's that time of the year when summer ends and Autumn is just getting going. The last three days have been dull wet and grey - and not that awe inspiring. Unfortunately my mind has been in a similarly coloured place at the mo.

But I did go to Painshill Park at the beginning of October and the Mute Swans seemed to be the most photogenic subjects. All the Canada and Greylag Geese had gone (they were numbering about 70 in total) so we await next Spring for the cycle to begin again. The young Great Crested Grebe was still around but too far out for a picture.

In the garden the birds are still very evident. A visit from a male Great Spotted Woodpecker the other was great and the Nuthatch visited again this morning.

The Jays are competing with the squirrel in terms of who can bury the most acorns!!

It's interesting that I only have the one squirrel visiting now for several weeks; last year I had 3/4 constantly. In "my" Sussex garden the same; last year's 6 are now down to one. I wonder where they've all gone.

At the bottom of the garden, a Jay is guaranteeing yet another Oak Tree!

The Mute Swans were the stars...







The reflections in the leaf covered water were lovely...


and this female Mallard agreed :D

A Mute Swan had a fly around the lake..

but on landing was chased, quite positively, by another male - one of a pair!