Leaves have been falling since late June, and it's now much more autumnal than summery. This summer has been very difficult for a number of reasons, and although I dislike the winter dark intensely, I can't say I'm sorry to see the back of the last couple of months.
I'm writing this listening to incessant rain, which doesn't bode well for Cwtch's long walk later but which is very much needed.
Purdown
Collapsed ferns at Snuff Mills
Patchway Brook
The River Trym at Badock's Wood
On the first day of the hosepipe ban here in Bristol, it rained so much the previous night that at Snuff Mills, the River Frome was bursting its banks in one or two places and the weirs were running through their winter repertoire ...
... but - we are told - it would have to rain for 90 days to replenish depleted water stocks.
As I've had to stay close to home, it's been pretty much the usual haunts, although, I did explore the Leap valley in Downend, which is hollowed by the tiny stream that gives it its name and which was new to me ...
... and the Three Brooks nature reserve in Bradley Stoke, but both lack winding paths alongside the streams that are their arteries, and that are such a feature of walks along the River Frome (which they'll presently flow into).
Dockham ditch flowing under the M4 and about to join Patchway brook
And yes, the needs of nature have to be prioritised in these places, but if you're telling me here be kingfishers, I'd like to have a fighting chance of seeing one.
Talking of which ...
a kingfisher and its fish at Frenchay bridge ...
Meanwhile, Cwtch and a friendly magpie had fun playing up on Purdown ...
... and we also had a close encounter with a wren.
Other than that, the fauna we saw up close and personal was dead.
Death also crossed over into my feather hunting activities. The season is tailing off now, and to date I've ferreted out 14 jay coverts, which matches the number I found last year. Except that last year I also came across a whole dead jay, which made a total of 48 blue coverts, only I don't really count the job lot as there's no joy in finding so many all at once.
There were a couple of minor synchronicities - a covert found under the same tree as last year, another in the same lane as last year - but I wasn't expecting to find another jay predation (minus the bird this time).
Not all of the feathers were there, but the 34 blue coverts were. Which brings the season's total up to ... 48.
But as I said, only the ones found individually are to be celebrated.
I was particularly interested in this covert, from a juvenile jay. Apparently it takes some practice to achieve neat, regular barring.
I also found a green woodpecker tail feather, which I'd wanted for a long time - two, in fact, the first being dark and very tatty, the second practically perfect.
tawny owl, buzzard, jay, goldfinch, sparrowhawk, magpie, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, ring-necked parakeet, thrush, greenfinch
CLOCKWISE from top left: carder bee, wasp nest, light emerald moth, clouded yellow butterfly
Cwtch and I also went for a walk up to Ridgeway Cemetery, which was more overgrown than ever with summer greenery. Even though I know they're there, it's always a small shock to see the headstones poking up out of bramble thickets.
There have also been favourite trees to visit ...
cherry resin
... and lots of 'tumnal fungi.
And finally some hoggin, though I must admit, my focus is always on feathers during the fleeting moulting season ...
... though I always feel touched that one particular path at Snuff Mills likes to remind me where I'm from every time I walk it.
