The day of our meet - 26th September 2021 was rather sombre with dark clouds keeping light levels low and not much leaf fall yet. Despite this robins were now singing, only short songs and 'chinks' some loud and assertive. Contact-calling Chiffchaffs could still be heard too, mingling with other small birds in Oaks and Field Maples. This years tree planting of Hawthorns and Hazels is doing well in the gaps and vegetation growth in general has exceeded all expectations with flowering plants attracting many insects throughout the summer:
Fleabane flowers have been abundant this year, attracting Small Copper
butterflies mostly in warm grassland areas. They can still be seen in October, given fine
dry autumn weather. These strong fliers are small and are not seen in large numbers.
All butterflies need shelter in bad weather therefore their habitat is exceptionally important,
with a diversity of grasses and wild flowers, bank vegetation, wild fruits and sunny gravel areas too.
Work for the day was completed before the sun appeared in the afternoon but this was not to last with wind and torrential rain following that night. That's typical of autumn and a trigger for the last migrant birds to leave. The river water levels had been steadily declining so it was good to see some rain at last. 
