As I predicted a few weeks ago, white butterflies kept flying well into September, helped no doubt by the continuing good weather which may have prompted an extra brood. The dainty small heath and small copper butterflies were also very common.

Darter dragonflies, the last of the summer species will continue flying into October. One afternoon I watched one cruising  just above the water rather too close to a swimming black headed gull which skilfully plucked it out of the air and swallowed it, something I've not seen before.

Foxes seem to be barking earlier then usual with the 'wow-wow-wow' of the dog fox answered by the banshee-like cry of the vixen. Normally they don't become vocal until early winter.

Blue, great, coal and long-tailed tits are forming little flocks and move through woodland, the idea being that many pairs of eyes are more likely to spot predators and a dwindling food source.

Up until three years ago a pair of nuthatches held a territory and nested in a large local oak. Now they are back so I hope they will stick around this winter.

My Michaelmas daisy is flowering magnificently this autumn and attracting a few late bees.

Over the last few years wasps have declined markedly but this autumn they are around in small numbers but never like the swarms we used to see years ago. Whatever we may think of them they are a vital link in the ecosystem as the adults catch many unwanted insects to feed to their grubs.