As September wore on reports were coming in about the lack of flocks of sparrows, which have in the past been such a common sight in our hedgerows. Ours seem to have had a reasonable breeding season, so perhaps the reason could be avian flu. Let us all hope that this is not the case.
As predicted last month, our second brood house martins fledged just before my birthday and are now probably well on their migration to their winter quarters. The strangest thing is that scientists do not fully understand this species’ migration and do not know exactly where they go, although it is thought that their destination could be somewhere in eastern Africa.
I love those calm, warm autumn nights. I generally check my moth trap just before retiring to bed and the garden at this time of day is so peaceful. Occasionally I experience a great wildlife treat, such as the one a few nights ago when I heard a tawny owl calling in our large ash tree and then moments later saw it flying over my head towards the village. One of these days I will get a photo….
I love my wildlife photography and never more so when I can approach really closely to a large raptor or an owl. I can still remember those days when to see a buzzard was really rare. They had been hunted almost to the point of extinction and the only location where you could be sure of seeing any was in rural Wales. They slowly started to return from the 1990s until now they are a common sight, and sound, here in Devon, but as for getting really close to them is quite another matter. A juvenile bird has been hanging around the garden for some weeks but on my birthday it settled on a climbing frame in the garden next door. I crept outside under cover of a hedge, found a small window in the foliage and got the closest shots I have ever managed – such a thrill for me!
