We've had all sorts of weather today - bright sunny spells, dark clouds, torrential showers and blustery gusts. A short walk to the valley viewpoint really blew the cobwebs away. Goldfinch have been snapping up the nyjer seed on the feeding station. There are still a few young about and large flocks can be heard twittering in the top meadow.
goldfinch
Leaves are starting to fall and flashes of autumn colours can be seen here and there and will only become more intense as the season progresses. Autumn colours at Coombes are pretty spectacular and I'm looking forward to watching them slowly morph into a colourful patchwork of oranges, yellows, reds and browns. Crab apples cover trees in the plantation and where the Dexters are grazing - although all the windfall apples have long been gobbled up by our organic lawnmowers. Butterflies are still around - volunteer Eric and I spotted a small copper and gatekeeper fluttering on the napweed opposite the willow weevil.
small copper - about the size of a 50 pence piece!