Forever Autumn - Part 1

The summer sun is fading as the year grows old
And darker days are drawing near
The winter winds will be much colder
Now you're not here

 The days are certainly getting colder - I may even have to put the shorts away soon.

Yew berries

Sloes and acorns

Jay food

Joe Bonnamassa gin

Raw apple pie

Helicopters, well that's what we called them

The trees and bushes are laden with food for the wildlife that will eat them and then spread the seeds. Most berries and seeds are looking OK despite the drought, except for the blackberries that are looking very forlorn and wizzened.

The best news of the year for me came in the form of a Willow Emerald damselfly, found near the hide at Decoy. Turns out it's the first record at The Mere so I'm proper chuffed about that.

Male WIllow Emerald at The Mere

There are still lots of Migrant Hawker dragonflies about, along with one or two Common and Ruddy Darters. Speckled Wood butterflies have had a good year and can still be seen in the hedgerows. Red Admirals, Small Coppers and Comma have also been seen in the last week.

Small Copper in the set aside

The harbingers of autumn are arriving now - Greylag Geese are gathering in the fields and the regular wintering herd of Barnacle Geese has made a late appearance too.

Barnacle Geese

Barnacle Geese coming in to land

Greylag Geese

Greylags in the foreground and Barnacles through the gap

 

The wild flowers have disappeared sharpish, although a few sunflowers still brighten up the set aside field. Teasels have shed their colours and are mostly brown spiky husks, but one still had a little colour which was a lovely surprise.

Teasel from above

As the flowers are fading so are the insects getting fewer and fewer. A Footballer hoverfly was looking for the last few balls of pollen to kick about, but the rest of its team appeared to have left the pitch already.

The Footballer hoverfly - come in number 7...

As a confirmed royalist I was deeply saddened when her majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. I believe she enriched the lives of many people and touched the hearts of so many of us with her grace and steadfast attitude to life. She will be missed.