Truly Autumn

Autumn has arrived .... it has been creeping up on us for a while, but for me at least Autumn officially starts when the Canadian geese arrive on mass. There has been the odd few arriving over the past couple of weeks, but today their cries could be heard most of the morning as they flew over head in formation heading for the farmer's pond and paddock. Their calls were once described as sounding like an excited crowd of people all talking at once. There is something very special about them, no matter how many times I have seen them, when they fly overhead I find myself stopping what I am doing and looking skyward.

The Sweet Chestnut has also started to drop it leaves, covering the path to the back door with a layer of soggy or crunchy leaves, depending on the weather, with the odd prickly fruit hidden amongst them. The hedge along the paddock is also beginning to loose its leaves, which will need clearing so as not to spoil the grass. They make wonderful leave mould when left to rot in a heap under the hedge.

The bird feeder in the garden is getting busy again and there have been mixed flocks of finches passing through. The grey and pied wagtail have returned and the jay calls from the holly tree.

In the evenings the smell of wood smoke hangs in the air as people light their fires ready to settle for the evening and the hens are in bed by 7 o clock!