Things can change rapidly at this time of year. In the last two days, after a short absence, the blue tits have appeared in the garden in force again. In particular they have taken to the fat feeders as well as grabbing sunflower seeds. It is very striking how, when they take a seed, they fly to a sheltered spot to eat it before returning for the next but will perch on the fat feeder for minutes at a time. Both great and coal tits have also been in evidence.
High summer and early autumn is always a quiet time for birds in my garden. I no longer feed after my summer holiday as I have ended up throwing away far to much mouldy fat or seed. Normally I would wait until November before putting the feeders back out but a party of long tailed tits appeared in the front garden today so I think that it might be worth while trying a single fat bar for the moment. For the past couple of weeks I have seen a lot of roadside signs saying "beware of deer" in places where I wouldn't normally see them. Last weekend I decided that they might be justified when I encountered a herd of roe deer in the road between Ley Hill and Latimer. While muntjac are seen often enough the roes tend to be shy and this was only the third time that I have had a good look at some in all the years that I have lived here.
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