All Change

With Storm Ali sweeping through the UK over the last few days, Autumn has well and truly got its feet under the table. During the past week or so strong south-westerly winds have brought the first big load of leaves to the ground, rain has fallen, and the days are drawing in. With the shifting seasons comes change with the wildlife around Gate Street Barn, and the past few weeks have seen plenty of this.

A great number of birds are on the move at this time of year. Summer visitors are clearing out - on 8th September a whopping 1,209 House Martins flew south in the space of two hours, and Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps are becoming much thinner on the ground. Birds that nest and winter far from here also pass through - during the last few weeks, Wheatears, Whinchats and Redstarts have all appeared, as they move through the countryside on their way from breeding grounds, possibly hundreds of miles away, to the coast and beyond.

With such movement among our feathered friends, unusual visitors can appear. This has certainly been the case recently. For example, a Black Redstart has taken up temporary residence at Bonhurst Farm, and is still present having arrived in mid-August. A Nightingale has been seen, several wading birds have migrated overhead, and a Sedge Warbler briefly dropped onto one of the hills. Best of all, however, was an Ortolan Bunting, which flew over Allden's Hill on 29th August. This is a really rare bird - they're only seen in Britain as accidental migrants, and only 13 have been recorded in Surrey before.

Grey Partridges.

With the start of the game season not long away, Pheasants and partridges can be seen around Gate Street Barn. Indeed, the gamekeeper has seen a flock (known as a covey) of Grey Partridges - this rapidly declining species is rare now, so it's worth keeping your eyes peeled in case you spot one.

Away from birds, on the odd sunny days a few butterflies offer a chance to reminisce about the long, hot summer we enjoyed. Speckled Woods are particularly prominent at this time of year, and territorial males can be seen dueling on the wing. White species and Red Admirals are still around at this time of year too, with the latter species joining many of the birds in undertaking a southbound migration to warmer climes.

An abundance of food can be found at this time of year as well. I mentioned blackberries in the last post, and it won't be long until the mushroom season is in full swing. Indeed, some Giant Puffballs can already be discovered at the moment; these can make a surprisingly nice risotto. Elderberries are in fruit, and so too are hawthorn berries.

Hawthorn berries.

The latter might not seem very appetising, but they are abundant around Gate Street Farm, and can be made into a vinegar, which goes nicely on roasted vegetables. I think they're much nicer in a 'hedgerow jelly' though, along with blackberries, elderberries, crab apples and rose-hips - nice with cheese and crackers and a glass of wine on a wet and windy night! 

Don't forget to leave some for the birds to help them through the colder months though. Indeed, many of them will soon be arriving from the north...