I would like to know where all the birds have dissapered to. Even the Magpies have gone down in numbers in our garden, and only odd Blue nad Great Tits.

Over the weekend I did see the Woodpecker in next doors garden.

These 2 photo's where taken wilst on a car park at the Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire the last week in October.

Apart from a visit to Carsington Water and Tittesworth not a lot of birds about. At Tittesworth saw a lot of Goldfinch and Long Tail Tits, also a Kingfisher, quiet a few Herons and the usual water fowl.

Been on holiday, filled all the feeders before I went. One completly empty not a lot in another, these have been raided by the magpies they are hanging on and getting their heads through the outer cage, throwing a lot out and others are picking the bits up from the ground. Another feeder with seed in it was still half full. I have seen a few Great Tits and blue Tits, Dunnock, Robin and Black Bird but not a lot else apart from Magpies by the dozen yes dozen. Late this morning a group of Long Tail Tits gave the Silver Birch tree a good picking over, great to see them again after a long while.

After a week the feeders are still half full, only odd birds about apart from Magpies.

A pile of feathers down the garden, could be we have had a visit from the Sparrow Hawk again, they look like from a Pigeon

All the usual birds are now returning to the feeders. Yesterday Great Tits, House Sparrows emptying the feeders fast. Greenfinches are now paying us a visit with a few Blue Tits odd Coal Tit, Black Birds are staying down the garden Dunnocks and Robin picking up the seed thrown out the feeders by the Sparrows. Also starting to return are the Wood Pigeons still get lots of Magpies can't get at the food in the feeders or the table I have put a cage around it. The Magpies are very persistant all have their thinking caps on trying to find a way of emptying the feeders.

All our usual birds are back Great Tits in large quantities, Green Finches, Blue Tits, Robin, Dunnocks, House Sparrows also large quantities, odd Wood Pigeon, Collard Doves, Coal Tit, Black Birds and today 14 plus Magpies all at the same time trying to get at the feed that I put out late last night.

All the usual birds have started to return to the feeders. Great Tits, Blue Tits, Greenfinch, Coal Tit. Ground feeding birds Black Bird, Robin, Dunnock, Magpie, Collard Dove, Wood Pigeon and what I think was a Chiff Chaff in the Silver Birch tree.

On a walk around Kielder Water came across a number of these Dragon Flies and this one stopped to rest a while. Could not move a lot being on a wooden walkway and to remove the grass stalks s/he would have flown away.

A walk along the River Tweed in Peebles and this heron decided he was staying put.

A mornings walk around the farm we where on I came across a flock of Lapwings. They decided they would move over to the other end of the field, at this point a Sparrow Hawk came charging through them and splitting them into two groups. Also in the field was a small flock of Starlings they also flew up with the Lapwings. To escape the sparrow Hawk, both groups of Lapwings and the Starlings joined together and started to gain height to be above the Sparrow Hawk. This would be so that the Hawk would not be able to dive at them from above and they would be safer. At this the Hawk flew away and the Lapwings and Starlings decided a new field would be better.

Returning along the farm track I came across a pair of Gold Finches feeding in Thistles, and a large flock of Chaffinches in a corn field that had not yet been harvested. Lots of late brood Swallows about the farm buildings and adjoining fields.

Apart from the above only a few other birds where spotted.

Getting a lot more birds now. Great Tits quiet a few at a time, Blue Tits, Dunnocks counted 4 all at the same time this morning, Blackbirds including young ones, the berries wont last much longer on the Mountain Ash, Collard Doves 4 today, Usual Magpies, Woodpigeons, Greenfinches a lot more visiting odd ones on the feeders others in the Silver Birch Tree. Saw 2 other birds this morning no bins to see properly could have been Chiff Chaff ( pale undersides ) in the Birch Tree flitting about, we have had these in the garden before a few years ago.

Disturbed a young Fox this morning lying in my veg patch, not the first time he/she has been about for a while. He/she is not looking as good as he/she should, tail thin not bushy coat a bit drab not shining, could have mange.

Wont be posting for 2½ weeks, going on Holiday to the Scottish Borders and then to Lancashire for a few days. Will try to keep a record of my sitings while away, camera and scope going with us.

Went on a trip to York yesterday not a lot of wildlife anywhere only a load of Woodpigeons anywhere to be seen.

Today first Greenfinch for quiet some time gave us a visit along with Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnocks, Robin, Collard Dove, Woodpigeon and Blackbird, the Blackbirds are eating the berries of the Mountain Ash I have in the garden. Every year they are all gone by the Autumn none left for the Winter. This morning opened the back door and looking at we from down the garden was a young Fox. We have seen one about from time to time during the early part of the day up to mid morning.

My walk around midday took in variety of places canal, wood and reservoir. The usual water birds Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and Heron. Also over the reservoir a Buzzard and in the surrounding wood Jay, Woodpigeons seem to be everywhere. Large White, Small White, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood Butterflies. Towards the end of our walk I came across a Elephant Hawk-moth Caterpillar walking across a footpath. Not carrying my camera I missed out on a photograph, I moved him to a safer place. I have not seen one of these for years the last one was in my own garden feeding on Fuchsias, would love to see the adult moth of this caterpillar, photographs of them look great.