After three gloomy weeks of torrential rain, last month's golden autumnal sunshine seems like a distant dream. But here, as a reminder of those bygone days, are Nicola's photos of a Jay, a Grey Wagtail, and a Chiffchaff. (The level of the Mill Stream has risen by at least one metre since the Grey Wagtail was skipping along it in the mud.)

Jay (Nicola Devine, Trap Grounds, 14 Sept 2019)

Chiffchaff (Nicola Devine, Trap Grounds, 14 Sept 2019)

Grey Wagtail (Nicola Devine, Trap Grounds, 14 Sept 2019)

Tuesday 1 October 2019

Clare Weiner writes: Like many parents at this time of year, Ethel, the Trap Grounds swan, is preparing her offspring for independent adult life. She leaves the two cygnets alone on the water for increasing lengths of time, and will soon be teaching them to fly. Their wing feathers are well developed and (see photo) are white rather than the grey of younger days. By December she will have to actively drive away the cygnets she has cared for so well. Usually the male swan does this, but Ethel has been on her own since Ernest failed to return (or failed to be returned) after his removal to a swan sanctuary in July. We wish them all well and hope she will find a new mate.

Ethel's cygnets, Oxford Canal, 1 October 2019 (Clare Weiner)

30th September

I was lucky enough to stumble across one of the Kingfishers sitting on the perch on Tim's Pond recently. The light wasn't great and he didn't linger enough but I managed to get off a photo or two.

Adam