Date: 12th September 2022
Time: from 7:30 a.m.
Weather: dry, bright/sunny, light wind, 15°C to 19°C
This was my first visit to the site since 11th August 2022 due to personal commitments, not least in respect of building works at
the block of flats where I live and the replacement of all my windows
There was a distinct autumnal feel this morning and fortunately it
appears that the extremely hot weather a few weeks ago is now behind us.
However, the “false autumn” started many weeks ago now and there is still evidence of browning leaves and carpets of
fallen acorns as well as blackberries, sloes, hip, haws, crab apples and horse chestnuts.
All of these autumn fruits, berries and nuts are very
abundant compared with last year and will be welcomed by the local wildlife,
not least the Jays that will be feasting on the acorns.
Bird activity has definitely ticked up compared with
the seemingly lifeless hot days of summer.
Most notably, many of the Chiffchaffs are still
present and have not yet migrated south following their breeding season. Perhaps some of
them will over-winter as is increasingly the case with this species in the UK
due to the mild conditions. During my visit, I heard at least 3 Chiffchaffs giving their
distinctive contact call and then in the eastern section of the cemetery I
heard a male Chiffchaff singing fairly regularly for around 30 minutes whilst I was
waiting for a Red Fox to appear. Finally, I heard another calling Chiffchaff
in a tree immediately behind the church and finally saw this bird as it
foraged high in the canopy.
Robins were the most vocal species with birds seen and heard singing and calling across the site. One particularly fearless individual repeatedly swooped from the branches of the oak tree to pick up presumably insects from the ground as I sat under the same oak tree being hit by falling acorns. I was able to photograph this bird as it perched just a few feet from me.
Other highlights including the following: Swallow (3
seen flying very high in a not unexpected southerly direction), Green
Woodpecker (1 heard calling), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 seen
flying in the eastern section of the cemetery and 2 others heard calling), Pied
Wagtail (1 heard calling when flying over the eastern section of the cemetery)
It was a good morning for Red Foxes and I was able to watch and photograph
2 different individuals in the western section of the cemetery. The first appeared
to have found an old cricket ball!
I also saw a single Grey Squirrel in the trees at
the edge of the eastern section of the cemetery and a single Small White
or Large White around the now barely flowering Buddleia bush in the central section of the cemetery.
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Site totals to date (2022 totals in brackets):
Slava Ukraini! …. Glory to Ukraine!
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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