I can’t believe it is the middle of September already but nature is certainly showing me it is! I am out before it is light at 6 o’clock and the Bats are still flying about, it means I am well on my walk when the sun comes up. It is around dawn that the mist lies in the valley and as soon as the sun comes up it burns it off so I am quite happy to be out there then.

Our Swallows and Martins went off over a week ago, they always gather on the telegraph wires at home but there are still many birds flying through to the coast. When I was on Hambledon Hill this morning a large flock flew over and then this afternoon there were birds flying over the meadows by the river, feeding ready to head to the coast. I believe they fly at night.

On Hambledon Hill this morning I noticed a large flock of small birds I thought they were perhaps Linnets it was difficult to see against the early morning light, there were at least 50 birds in the flock and it wasn’t until I looked at the picture I took I saw they were Goldfinches. I found out that 2/3rds of the goldfinch breeding  population migrate as far south as southern Spain. 

Of course the signs of autumn are showing in all the hedgerows, Below is a selection of some of the fruits when out on one of my walks. I have to say the Blackberries are some of the best I have had for a few years ,sweet and juicy, the drought doesn’t seem to have affected the crop.

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