Stoat poo on the cushion of a garden bench . Placed by a stoat to mark it's territory . What can I say . Stoats like their comfort too ! (scale is in cm.)

Recall being amazed when a pal pointed out a "thrush" and struggled to believe me it was a female blackbird . Fortunately a song thrush appeared and I could show her they are buff and more speckled . So , in case anyone is in doubt , this is a female blackbird

The moulting young bullfinches are beginning to look like smart adults now . A few more days should complete the transformation

While photographing bullies and blackies in the whitebeam the session ended very suddenly . Dead quiet and not a sign or sound of birds. Then, high in the tall beech , I spotted the reason . #Sparrowhawk

How did you fare during the storm ? One climbing rose and it's trellis needed reattached, but all else stood up to it. Not this oak , the second time it has suffered storm damage since we moved here . Of course it is in the nature of ageing oaks to become stag headed over time

My preference for dense wildlife planting starts to show why . Conventional gardens thin in autumn and are often bare in winter . Heavy cover ensures habitat remains all winter for the many species which call this place home . (Four amphibian species , bank vole, woodmouse ..)

Just checking ,what are the blue blurs ? Bluetit, great tit , nuthatch or something scarce . East coast woodland recently

In Spring only three male toads turned up . I hoped a female was in the garden ,growing /maturing . The other night a large toad was on the bottom of the pond , big enough to be female . Tonight on the deck her size suggests she will breed in Spring . Here's hoping !

19th October is National Harvest Mouse Day . I found one when they were officially extinct in Scotland They just need enough volunteers to survey for them . Details here mammal.org.uk/current-resear…

An ecosphere is a sealed jar of pond water incl some silt and pond plants . Within minutes Green Hydra should stick to the glass . Big enough to study with a magnifying glass and a bit of amazing internet hydra info , This could be the start of a lifelong interest !

Many northern Blackbirds (dark billed) , in the Swedish Whitebeam with secretive Bullfinches ,mostly moulting juveniles , and Woodpigeons . Some ecologists look down upon Swedish Whitebeam as it is a self bred hybrid ,now naturalised . Maybe they just need to watch one in Autumn

Getting past the season I expect to find newts out hunting during last dog round of the garden . Adult Smooth Newt tonight

Wildflower paths need careful selection of plant species Go for ones which don't mind being walked on. Here are Germander Speedwell , Wild Strawberry, Wild Violets, and various self sown explorers

While we still have a few hoverflies around try this way of telling males from females . Females' eyes have a space between them ,whereas males' eyes join together on top. Females have more pointed tails , as they have egg laying apparatus in there . Males have rounder bums !

If you magnify shore sand you can quite clearly see much of it started out as shells and skeletons of sea creatures . What kind ? How long ago ? No, I'm not going there !