The last of the sunshine....

Above and below - Howick in an autumn light.

A lovely mild calm and quiet day today. A real pleasure to be out and about. The last rays of hazy sunshine lighting up golden leaves and red berries.

At home, while waiting for JWR to arrive first thing, a few things attracted attention.While having a coffee and gazing through the kitchen window, a 'buzzard' glided low over our house chased by a crow. I nearly didnt give it a second glance, but I lifted the bins and I was pleased to see not a buzzard at all, but a Short eared Owl! Not only new for the garden but new for the patch too...

Some viz migging from the drive had 1 Brambling, 1 Redpoll, 3 Siskin and 400+ Pinkfeet all south. Later, in the afternoon a walk to the Pond had 2 distant hirundines over the wood that I think were probably Swallows and 5 Crossbills circled about low overhead.

After John arrived we took a short trip up to Craster and walked the Heugh and around the Village. After some time, we found a nice Yellow browed Warbler that showed very well but only briefly before taking cover, a House Martin and a flock of 12 Crossbills flew S, a female Blackcap was in the allotments and a Purple Sandpiper was with Turnstones in the harbour. The sea was quiet with only a couple of Red throated Divers and Guillemots seen. A few birds were in a hedge next to a game crop including 15+ Tree Sparrows, 12+ Yellowhammers and a couple of Reed Bunting.