My blog is mostly about wildlife, particularly birds, walking, days out, all growing things and anything else that comes to mind.
To view pictures in larger format, just click on any picture for the picture gallery....

Saturday 11 September 2010

Autumn seems to be on its way.....

I've had a very good friend staying with me recently, so blogging's taken a bit of a back burner. However, wildlife doesn't stand still (I'm glad to say) neither do the visitors to my garden.

(Both the next 2 pictures have been in the category "grab the camera and shoot through double glazing before checking the settings; therefore record shots only :) )

The juvenile Gt. Spotted Woodpeckers are still daily visitors and I've also had a Green Woodie who seemed to enjoy the many ants I've unearthed by cutting the grass!

Another 3 times visitor has been a Sparrowhawk. I've observed two successful hunts and both times (I believe) Goldfinches have been the victims.


I had a visit to Painshill Park the other day and could only find 3 of the 4 young Great Crested Grebes... One was with one parent and, some distance apart were the remaining two with the other parent.

Evidence of Autumn's approach was everywhere..

the berries on the bushes and trees..

the well-formed cones on the pines..

different types of fungi springing up (earlier than usual ?? )


The grapes on the vines are beginning to ripen and the "bird scarer" has now been put into use (this is the sound of a gun firing)..



It was a still day and the reflections of the Chinese bridge were an almost perfect mirror image.


Mallards lazed about; this male just beginning to get its full plumage back after eclipse.

En famille!

The "conkers" are getting ready to shed the fruits..

and everywhere was looking very green;

dappled sunlight amongst the trees overhanging the water.




That's it for now; more to follow soon......

6 comments:

holdingmoments said...

Cracking set of pictures Tricia.
Couple of good visitors to the garden; the green woodie, always good to see, and the Sparrowhawk, lovely to see. Had one in my garden the other day, first one I've ever seen here.
I've seen a few mushrooms about recently, I think it's the damp weather.
Those grapes look tasty ;)

Janine said...

Those grapes sure do look yummy. I get the Southern Muscadine in my yard(small, bitter, and nowhere near as pretty as those!)

Simon Taylor said...

Green Woodpecker Tricia, not Great Spotted.

Great set of images though.

Anonymous said...

Thats the only way sometimes Tricia. Great shot of the Sparrowhawk.

Tricia Ryder said...

Keith - I'm lucky to have those visitors but put their prescence down to living in a wooded area.

Janine - they actually use them and produce their own wine... not tried any yet but...

Simon - yes, it is a Green Woodie as I stated - no pictures of the Great Spotted yet though.

Roy - thanks. I try to leave the camera set as I would want it for just this very occasion.

oldcrow61 said...

Beautiful sparrow hawk. A great set of pictures. The grapes look soooo good.

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