Scozmo's Photery

Aye! It’s November already! Soon be ……. shhhhhh.

We’re still living with weather variety; pretty blooming chilly, 3˚C most mornings but when the sky is clear(ish) the Sun is really warm so, as my dear mother likes to say “you just don’t know what to wear!” and it’s so true. I’ve gone out for a wander several times now, wrapped up for 3˚ and the Sun has come out so I cook, until I get under the tree canopy, then it’s back to shivery temps. Not complaining, I’d far rather have seasonal weather than the same every day but, does anyone now get that? “Four Seasons in One Day” as Crowded House sang!

So it was on November 1st when I headed out for my patch wander, three layers, none too thick and out came the Sun. I guess my first image says it all.

I have started a habit of taking a shot from the patio when I set out on my walks, gives an overview of the weather …. maybe

A lone female House Sparrow, perched on one of the sheds against a clear blue sky! I crossed the yard as always, checking the Barn owl nest boxes, there’s (almost) one dozing in the original nest box, then up between the sheds and out into the field beyond.

A wee Dunnock perched on the gate post in the sunlight, they’ve been scarce lately, they are around just skulking under hedges and shrubs so really nice to see one out in the light of day.

You can just see a few bits of weed in the first shot, there’s a great wild area just behind that shed that attracts all sorts.

There was a Wren on top of an old farm tank.

For such a tiny bird, they can really belt out a song, that shot put me in mind of “sing like no-one can hear you” Just go for it, enjoy everything you can.

I often walk into the green lane, from the field, have a look around then turn back onto the field to continue the walk.

Just look at that cloud! Totally destroying the day 😉

The walk along the top of the field was pretty uneventful, the birds are quiet right now but the sunlight on autumnal leaves ….. stunning.

Brummels, or Bramble / Blackberry bushes go through such a range of colours. I remember when our daughter first moved to S. Wales from California and went out for a walk with Mom who started picking and eating blackberries, she was amazed! Free food???? 🙂

As I walked across the field top, i kept admiring the trees in their Autumnal colours, our ‘main’ road runs between those hills.

I wandered down to the wildlife cam, not much on that at the moment, other than a gaggle of lady Pheasant who turn up every afternoon to check the food drops 🙂

I did catch another Wren watching me from the Gorse above.

They are so small and so flighty it’s not often or easy that I get shots of them.

I didn’t take any more shots until I was on my way back towards home, just past the old Oak tree and standing in an avenue of mixed deciduous trees.

Got to love the camouflage of a Treecreeper.

And look at those leaf colours!

I love watching and photographing these little birds, they can get quite close but rarely keep still for very long. I just stood under those trees for a while, watching that and all the other small birds flitting to and fro, Blue, Coal and Great Tits, a wee flock of Long-tailed Tits, another on that’s not easy to photograph, a Nuthatch foraging along the branches … very quiet, very peaceful and relaxing.

But onwards and heading for home, I bumped into the neighbours out for a walk, just heading out so we stopped and had a natter, as we did, something took off from a nearby Willow and flew at ground level along the track ahead.

A female Sparrowhawk. We currently have large flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare and i remember last year there were several Sparrowhawks hunting over the patch, lots of potential meals for them. That’s nature.

There was one in the tree outside my window yesterday, the birds around the feeders attract them to the garden but, luckily, I’ve not yet seen one with a catch.

patch photos