Chiltern Birder

Despite the frequent bright sunshine the weather has turned very crisp and autumnal in the last few days. When taking some exercise this morning it was quite a suprise to see a swallow zooming across a freshly ploughed field. As the trees are pretty well in full leaf that was the only thing of any interest that I noted. In the garden recently I have had a flock of long tailed tits pay a brief visit and a very quick glimpse of what looked like a linnet. In the village a jay looking for acorns on the verge made a colourful change from the magpies

For a variety of reasons I have neglected the birds since the spring but travelling to East Anglia by train last weekend I did pay attention to what I could see out of the window. Between Stowmarket and Ipswich I was suprised to see an avocet flying alongside the train over some rather marshy looking fields. At Manningtree there is a lovely view of the estury, the train was a little fast for identifying most of the waders but there were several egrets there. These are the first that I have seen on the east coast but as I haven't been birding in the area for many years that doesn't say much. At home the garden has attracted the basic collection of blue and great tits, robins and wood pigeons. At night the tawny owls have been very audible.