As the weather had cooled a little (down to mid seventies in old money) we thought that a stroll around College Lake would make a nice break. With the water level low, additional ground was exposed and there were large areas shallow enough for a flock of lapwing to stand in. There were quite a few terns around and a solitary redshank was wading in deeper water. We were told that there was a garganey present but it spent all its time hidden behind one of the islands.
The early ripening of blackberries was obvious with a lot of fruit looking ready to eat already. Walking along the hard surfaced paths we kept seeing froglets crossing which defied any attempt to be photographed. There were also large numbers of blue damselflies, I would guess common blues but none staid still long enough to attempt a proper identifyication. On the other hand a burnett moth did allow itself to be photographed.
Taking my usual walk today it was striking how the autumn colours had come on in the last few days. When the sun came out I really regretted not having the camera with me. There wasn't much to see in the way of variety or numbers of birds. A couple of probable skylarks put up on a cultivated field but the gem was naturally a red kite. Circling over the fields behind my house at tree top height it finally came over my head as I reached the edge of the field. Living where I do I suppose that I should be blasé about them by now but when one comes overhead there is no choice. I still just stop and say "wow!"
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