First frost of winter

This morning awoke to the first frost of the winter. But we seem to have had a transition from summer through autumn and into winter within about a two week period. The ground was very wet, which I suspect ameliorated the effects of the frost. Certainly, the very late flowering plants appear not to have been affected.

First winter visitors

 Yesterday saw the arrival in this area of winter visitors is the form of fieldfares and redwings. There were two flocks each of about twenty individuals. The birds appeared to be moving together and yet clearly maintained themselves as two separate flocks.

Curious Ravens at Wedge Wood

Sitting upon the seat of my earth closet in my woodland, I was somewhat surprised to hear the raucous calls of a raven. These birds will wander during the winter, for they are certainly not resident in this part of the country.
As I watched, a pair flew over head, but then, one of them saw me and decided to come down to investigate. Its partner soon followed, but, as the first bird got to tree top height, it appeared to realise what it had first seen and quickly veered away.

November Sunflower

Following the pattern already established with the climate change we are experiencing, this morning, I saw a sunflower in full bloom.The plant was growing near the middle of a horse pasture (the horses having been withdrawn from the field about a month ago). It has grown to a height of approximately one metre. I can only presume that the seed was dropped by a bird for it to be growing in this location, that it should be flowering at this time of year is verging upon the bizarre.

Tadpoles

Friends informed me yesterday that they have tadpoles in their pond. Probably frogs.

Lesser spotted woodpecker

For only my third sighting ever, I saw a lesser spotted woodpecker this morning. It flew from the wood, across the field and landed on a small silver birch. By the time I had got across the field it had moved on. It was a wet dreary morning and certainly brought a brighter note to my walk. The field it flew across sees up to five a green woodpeckers every morning, the family group that bred in the wood last spring.

Dragonflies at Wedge Wood

I was in my wood yesterday collecting logs to store up for the oncoming winter, when, whilst partaking of some lunch I was dive bombed by a dragonfly. It was not an intentional attack of course, but the insect came quite close at high speed. As it flew up and down the woodland rise, it was briefly joined by another. The continuing mild weather means that there are still plenty of small flying insects around to feed these giants, but it still came as a surprise to find them around in mid-October.

There is a very good chestnut harvest this year and the ones I have found at the top of the wood are of a commercial size which has come a a very pleasant surprise.