Hirondine Autumn Migration

 Summer is coming to an end and birds are heading south to spend the winter in warmer climes.
We counted around 300 mostly house martins on the wires near a local farm as they paused on their journey south. An hour or so later there were none left.

Willow Beauty Moth

Lovely little moth resting this morning just outside the front door. We hope we have identified it correctly by its feathered antennae and dark central cross line on the fore-wing.
Willow Beauty are apparently quite common and often rest on tree trunks you can see how well camouflaged they would be. Flight season is correct and can be attracted by lights at night. Also we have plenty of woodland nearby with suitable food plants for the larva such as Broad-leaf trees, Ivy and Honeysuckle.

Pheasant Nest

Pheasants normally nest earlier in the year so I was surprised to find this nest with 18 eggs when weeding our borders. Sadly the bird did not like being discovered and seems to have abandoned the nest

Falling Sycamore

We have walked past this tree hundreds of times on a bridleway near our house and it never gave us any cause for concern.
Last night was a hot sunny evening with not a breath of wind when we heard a crack and the tree suddenly split up the trunk and fell over the path.
Just shows how unpredictable trees can be!

Hot air balloon morning

Still summer mornings bring hot air balloons over the valley. With the Bristol Balloon Festival next weekend we might see more of them drifting this way during the week

Black Tailed Godwit

It may be early August but for many birds the Autumn migration has started.
This black tailed godwit is still in Summer plumage but has left its marshy breeding grounds to spend the winter on coastal grassland and muddy estuaries such as our local Severn estuary.
The winter plumage will be a lot more drab than this brightly coloured bird.