Well, the rain is drumming on the office roof, its 3:30 and its nearly dark, Winter is coming!
However, the period between Autumn and Winter is an exciting one on a nature reserve and Middleton is no different.
One of the highlights was the presence of a Short-eared owl on the reserve for a few days. It was seen hunting over Fishers Mill and a couple of times was seen dropping into the long grass behind the canal side screen, keep an eye out as it could still be there...
Lesser redpoll have been seen on the feeders, a clear sign of Winter and it wont be long before it finds it friends and the feeders will be full. Look out in the hedgerows as there are lots of Redwings and Fieldfares taking all of the berries.
There are quite a few Golden plover on site at the moment. Up to 100 have made the Jubilee Wetlands their home and making use of the mud as they continue their journey. Look out for them as they swirl around in the sky making their flutey whistle in a tight group.
There has also been a Goldeneye this week. This smart diving duck has made the journey South from its breeding grounds to over winter in this country.
Other recent highlights include Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Black-tailed godwit, 1100 Lapwing, as many as 13 Stonechat and hundreds of Wigeon and Teal.
The Starlings have returned! up to 3000 so far have been murmurating and roosting in the reeds at the back of Fishers Mill, a really fantastic sight.
Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great spotted woodpecker and Tawny owl have been seen through the woodland, Little egrets are regular with up to 10 on the reserve at one time and well over 30 Snipe can be seen, which is no doubt a fraction of what is out there!
So with some wet weather planned for this weekend, who knows what might drop in!