Autumn on the farm
Autumn is the time of transition from summer into winter. Already wintering birds have returned to the Exe. Avocets, Wigeon and black-tailed godwit numbers are on the increase, while swallow, reed warbler and hobby continue to press forward on their migration back to Africa and warmer conditions.
Having said that, summer lingers on with good Butterfly numbers seen on warmer days, Dragonflies to have reappeared, Southern hawker, and Common darters are still being spotted. Also on my travels this week I saw a pair of House martins still busy feeding young in the nest.
Osprey sightings have dropped away in the last week but a nice range of more rare birds have turned up with, Lapland Bunting, Wryneck, Firecrest and not forgetting the 20 plus Glossy Ibis which turned up on the river Otter. Reports are some are still there but numbers thinning out (18/09/10).
Gareth Williams.