Toby Buckland has been telling everyone on Radio Devon
that this has been the best year for holly berries in 20 years and suggests there will be plenty for Christmas decorations. Some hopes! The winter, or Scandinavian, thrushes have arrived here to over winter and are busy stripping the berries as fast as they can. I anticipate that there will be none left within a few days. I have tried hard to photograph Redwings on the holly berries, but the moment they sense my camera, they are off in a flash.
Despite all the rain (a whole bucketful in a week), butterflies were still in evidence right up until the end of October. In the meantime a young hedgehog has been busy hoovering up under the bird feeders, but unless he quickly puts on a lot of weight, or we get a really mild winter, I do not reckon much on his chances of surviving once he hibernates.
Andrew and Cherry at Mousehall have racked up an alert – they have 
discovered small numbers of Himalayan Balsam plants in their stretch of the stream. Although this is considered by some to be an attractive plant, it is incredibly invasive and if seen should be pulled up and disposed of before it seeds everywhere. The trouble is that our fast flowing stream will disperse the seeds over many miles of river banks.
What a simply amazing autumn it has been for the birds. We have recorded 
three new species from the garden, this taking our total to a staggering 65 species. First there was a juvenile moorhen (also seen by Andrew and Cherry) which approached the house really closely. Although a very common bird, this was the first I have seen anywhere in the locality. Next came a Stonechat migrating through, taking a rest for quite a while on our front hedge. Then a huge flock, possibly 200-300, of Knot, identified by their distinctive call as they wheeled around the house 
and field opposite. I thought at first that they too were migrating through until I remembered I had seen this species over-wintering on the Exe a few years ago.
There has been so much rain that my garden jobs are all on hold until we get a spell of fine weather – so much to do and time is running out fast on this year. I had hoped to have gathered up all the leaves by now and to have planted more in the bog garden, but I really cannot go there at the moment!
Paul Lister 01404 841696
