Calm before the storm...

Today was a lovely day, warm and sunny with a light southerly breeze.



First thing outside this morning I was pleased to get a garden tick in the form of a male Stonechat perched on the phone wires above our drive. I've never had this species on any of my garden lists so its a good record. They are usually down along the coast path at Howick Haven about half a mile away. It flushed before I could retrieve the camera.




After breakfast we had a walk to the pond to feed the swans and back by the hall. On the route were 2 Gadwall on the pond still, 64 Pinkfeet and 30 Greylags flew south, 3 Redpolls and a few Siskins were in the woods. Blackbirds and Song Thrushes have arrived in force over the past couple of days with large numbers in all hedgerows / woods etc. The sun even prompted 2 Song Thrushes into song. Later, 5 Skylarks and about 80 Lapwings flew south.

This Kestrel, above, spent a while in the village too later seen harassing the local Buzzard.



In the wood this Japanese Maple was stunning...



Two butterflies today, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. If the weather forecast is right they might well be the last...



Above - Shaggy Inkcaps or Lawyers Wig in varying stages of growth and decay.



Above - This is the moth I thought might be Autumnal Moth?

Later we went to Craster for lunch and I had to take the picture below. An Aston Martin Vantage on the drive of an ex-council elderly persons bungalow. Imagine them popping to the shops in it. Its a better class of pensioner in these parts you know... :)