Around the Patch

I don't think i've done an update for a while, it was summer in the last update and it's most definitely autumn now!

I've had plenty of walks in the woods including the extended walk over the M621, which does take me off the patch slightly. I was trying to see if I could adjust my area for the Patchwork Challenge to include this extra walk for next year but it'll loose at least one of the regular places if I do. Maybe it could be stand alone patch?!

On this most recent walk we spotted a flock of 20+ Linnets and lots of birds in the various trees which are full of berries - Mistle Thrush, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Jay, Blue/Great Tits - it would be a good little patch!

Mistle Thrush

Back to the patch, on the same walk a Kestrel was hunting over the Pit Hill fields at the end of the woods and a Buzzard was being chased by a Crow. The woods themselves have been full of Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits still, plus Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Robins, Woodpigeons, Magpies. The GS Woodpecker has been around too, though speaking to some of the regular dog walkers a second Woodpecker had been found dead on one of the paths, which is shame. A Sparrowhawk had been seen in gardens nearby and early in September we saw it on a few morning walks in the same patch of trees.

Blackbird

Great Tit

Woodpigeon 

Great Spotted Woodpecker

In the parks the Thrushes disappeared for a while and have just started putting in an appearance again, with Mistle Thrush being the most common on my walk through to work. More Black-headed Gulls are back in town too, with numbers building up slowly near my house and in the centre. One morning last week a flock of 168 Pink-footed Geese flew over the park, I grabbed a photo on my phone and counted them later! The week before that 7 had flown over the house one evening.

In the garden the birds arrive in fits and starts, all the usual visitors - Sparrows, Starlings, Robin, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Blackbird, Goldfinch and more recently a pair of Coal Tits, Dunnock and a Wren. A brief visit from a Chaffinch was the first in months. We've had both Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers passing through, usually with the Tit flocks over the past few weeks.

Woodpigeon

Blue Tit

Starlings

Long-tailed Tit

House Sparrow

Goldfinch

Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tits

Coal Tit

Goldfinch

Collared Dove

A Squirrel visits regularly as does the Hedgehog on an evening. A couple of Bats have been flying around the garden most evenings and over the past couple of weeks a Fox has been in a few times. We didn't see one at all over the summer.

Back in July our front garden was covered in Cinnabar Moth caterpillars

The warm weather brought the moths out in droves and every night after dark we watched them flying around the Buddleia by the window.

Silver Y Moth

*edit* Willow Beauty, thanks RR!

Up until last week we were still seeing Butterflies in the garden - Holly Blue, Large & Small Whites, Commas.

Large White

Comma

Brimstone

Holly Blue

This Shieldbug sat on the leaf of one of the pond plants in the sun for a while.

So summer's done, bring on the Autumn birds, i'm looking out for my first Redwings in the park!