Cooling down

The Safari’s ears noted a significantly autumnal feel to the weather at the sea wall this morning – they were telling us it was cold and they weren’t whispering! There is a definite change in the weather coming this weekend with the likelihood of a smattering of snow on the higher ground to the north east of Safariland.

Nothing of note was out to sea even the Common Scoters were few and far between and far out (man) barely able to be seen in the dreadful light conditions.

A flock of gulls swooped about just this side of an approaching hailstorm that looked as though they may have been into a shoal of fish close to the surface.

Overhead a Meadow Pipit will be one of the last migrants of the year we get here and on the beach we had our best count of the season so far of both Redshanks, 16, and Turnstones, seven.

Back in the warmth of the offices through the window we saw an Oystercatcher feeding with a handful of Black Headed Gulls on the lawn.

We didn’t go to the wall this lunchtime choosing instead to run the gauntlet of the elements and walk over the railway bridge to the pet shop in search of some Blue Tit and Brambling attracting wild bird food. We hadn’t got far when a sharp shower of hail rattled off the hood of our waterproofs. Thankfully the wind was at our back and the return journey was shower free.

Fatballs have been installed in the Blue Tit zone and seed spread for the Bramblings. We hung around the Brambling zone for half an hour after work with JS and FB and after a few false alarms we got one as we were almost back to the Land Rover. Happy days! But will the food work by bringing them down to ground level?

A Lords and Ladies seedhead was a nice find - didm't notice it during the summer

Hope this cold snap gives us Waxwings!!! Hot news this arvo was of six only a few hundred yards away from Ma n Da’s back garden in Liverpool, must be some round here before too long.

Yesterday's caterpillar was an Angle Shades moth.

Where to next? Who kmows what tomorrow might bring.

In the meantime let us know what's poking out of the multi-coloured leaf litter in your outback