Of a Fox, a Deer, a Snake, and Tractors.
With the demise of the foot and mouth regulations it is nice to see tractors going up and down our lane again, in this case with full loads of hay that should have been moved but for the foul weather followed by the F & M restrictions. The hay this year is not of a particularly good quality as much of it was either left standing because of the rain, or had been cut ready for turning and bailing but stayed in the field or had been bailed and was waiting to be collected from the field when the disease struck.

I was mowing the lawn the other day when my attention was taken with a movement in the grass (which was a bit longer than it should have been) a young Grass Snake was making it's way through the greenery to the safety of the hedge. It seemed totally unconcerned that I was a foot away watching it. It was some six or seven inches long and a little thicker than a pencil. It must have sensed the vibration of the mower as snakes are stone deaf and cannot hear.

A young fox has taken to roaming the water meadows at 1.00 am in the morning quite close to the house. It is a vixen but being young the blood curdling noise they normally make has not developed and we are left with a loud high pitched scream that goes on and on for about three or four  minutes before she gives up and moves away.

Moths, Butterflies, Insects and Grass
The Indian summer has had an effect on the local butterflies. The garden is still full of flowers which is good news, for butterflies as they continue to feed. A cluster of Red Admiral butterflies have been feeding from the yellow budlia in the garden. It is an Autumn butterfly, large and colourful; it's 18th century name was 'Alderman' after the robes of noblemen and dignitaries.

Those that are still around this month are the second generation from summer visitors that came from the continent.  They can often be seen feeding on fallen apples.

Large Whites have been flitting across the flower beds in the autumn sunshine. A number of their caterpillars (yellow with black spots) have eaten the leaves of our nasturtiums. The flowers had come to an end anyway but now they look tatty but we left them in the ground and watch with interest for when the caterpillars turn into chrysalis.

A female Emperor dragonfly was buzzing around our little pond (no fishes in it as it is a wildlife pond). The females are green, only the males are a metallic blue colour. The biggest of our native 'Hawkers' they patrol up and down stretches of water in search of prey and catch many insects. Emperor dragonflies are often seen in our garden, especially on warm days. The nymphs have been found in our pond where they live for approximately two years, shedding their skins as they grow. They finally emerge from early summer onwards, the nymphs pulling themselves out of the water by climbing up overhanging vegetation where the skin is split for the last time. The young dragonfly crawls out leaving the shell behind. They are at their most vulnerable at this moment as they have to rest and dry out their wings. The adult dragonflies only live for about a month.

There is a mellowness about the countryside now and I am reminded of the poem; 'Ode to Autumn' which we learnt off by heart while at Elstead school and had to recite as a class at the school Christmas concert. Those in the same class as me may remember it.

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom friend of the fast maturing sun"

It goes on for three verses and I think, reflects this time of year completely.