Autumn Days !!

It certainly appears that summer has been and gone and that we are already into Autumn !!. The air has a "distinct nip" about it, the mist hangs over the valley in the early morning and the evening's are drawing in.  This is undoubtedly my favourite time of year.  Birds also change as the breeding season comes to a close and the Autumn migration begins. Most of the birds which I have seen over the last few days are ones which I always associate with this time of year.  On Wednesday [16th] there was a Marsh Harrier, Grasshopper Warbler and Turtle Dove at Harrington Airfield . Several visits to Harrington has produced Common Redstart, Turtle Dove, Grey Partridge, Raven and Peregrine.
I ran around Sywell Reservoir the other day and there was a family party of Grey Wagtail on the dam, a calling Cettis Warbler and Green Sandpiper and Curlew flying over calling.
The hedgerow between Old and Walgrave continues to be attracting Common Redstart and on a couple of visits I have seen 2 or 3 birds which have been a mixture of males and female type and are clearly passing through.
There have also been a couple of Common Redstart, Wheatear, Peregrine, Grasshopper Warbler  and Grey Partridge in the Blueberry Area.
Yesterday at Staverton the Ravens were in attendance at our agility training and caused a great deal of commotion where a Peregrine strayed onto "their patch".
This morning there was a Tree Pipit, Common Redstart and Wheatear in the valley below Hanging Houghton and a Siskin and Raven over the garden.
The harvest is slowly being gathered in and some of the fields have already been ploughed. I love the rich earthy aroma of a newly ploughed field and the birds also find this attractive with good numbers of Gulls, Corvids and Raptors busy foraging. Always worth checking out these fields as you just never know what might turn up. 
Autumn is equally as exciting as Spring as you just never know what or where something good could turn up.

We have a new edition.......a Border Collie pup called Jaeger who we are just introducing to the joys of birdwatching. I couldn't resist posting a few pics !!

Regards   Eleanor