Out in the woods and fields

In the woods pheasants, treecreepers and goldcrests were to be seen and heard. Sadly not easy to photograph - that's why theres a shot of moss… at least the pheasants were kind enough to leave some feathers behind. 

Around the edge of the forest in the fields there were still some insects 

enjoying the autumn sun. 

The plants are all going to seed now.

I was grateful for a long lens, I really wouldn't have liked to have got that close to the bull.

Conkers

A battle I have with myself every year - the compulsion to pick up EVERY conker I see. 

I especially like the ones which have just fallen from the tree and have never 

been touched by another living soul. They're the best.

In praise of looking down

On a blustery day there is so much to find. New things get thrown to the ground 

and are well worth a closer look. 

I'm going on a seed hunt later.

Sunny autumn collection

The weather is still fair. The ground is dry and dusty, the grasses turning yellow. A few leaves are starting to fall. Poplar leaves lie like bright gold triangles on the ground I have to pick them up. Lime tree seeds whirl in the wind. 

I see a small copper butterfly clinging to ragwort. I find a tuft of deer hair and a beetle gnawed piece of wood. And, powering across the pond after an enemy one exceedingly angry swan.

Nature table of the day

Another bright, early autumn afternoon. Blue skies, white clouds and a touch too windy 

for my liking. It wasn't easy to photograph things blowing about, so I scoured the floor 

of the woodland gardens instead.

A duck eggshell was a surprise find. It was alongside a pile of acorn shells which the 

squirrels had left behind. 

Nature table 13th September

Every day is different. Get out and see for yourselves.

Today's nature table

Wonderful signs of autumn are appearing, the colours are beginning to change. The green 

of the deciduous trees is looking weary and dusty, so different from last month.

This is what I found today:

The fish ribs and scales were a surprise. I scoured around, but couldn't find any more remains. 

Probably a carp, there are a lot in the ponds in Bushy Park.

I love stripy owl feathers, their fluffy edges help the owl fly silently. The swallows 

were flying low over the grass and playing (or arguing) mid air.