Wet weather brings autumn to life

By Renee Hockley-Byam BBC Essex

Rain gives the beech tree leaves at Broaks Wood an extra shine

BBC Essex's nature watcher Renee Hockley-Byam is recording her autumn observations of the changing season.

This week Renee describes the wildlife in her back garden and heads along to Broaks Wood near Sible Heddingham to enjoy its vibrant autumn colours.

She witnesses some particularly active squirrels who are keeping busy doing what they do best - burying nuts.

And whilst the wet weather is unwelcome to some, the old adage of it being 'good weather for ducks' rings true.

Week Five

Saturday, 31 October

Such a lovely afternoon - we have been raking all the windfall apples, from a huge old tree in our garden, into the flower beds to provide food for the birds.

The squirrels have been busy in Renee's garden in the past few weeks

Not only are the blackbirds very partial to them but also the moorhens and my chickens.

The squirrels have been very busy in the garden too - I love to watch them burying nuts in the lawn - very funny to see them patting the grass back down with their little feet.

Actually they don't make a very good job of smoothing the grass down, but it does not take long to tread it down after them!

One was even spotted struggling along with an apple - not sure if the intention was to eat it immediately or bury that for later too!

Sunday, 1 November

As promised, woke-up to wind and rain - that has certainly knocked the leaves off the trees, can hardly see the lawn this morning!

The wet weather is welcomed heartily by the ducks

Has not stopped the squirrels going about their business though, or the deer we saw while out on a rainy walk.

The mallard ducks love it of course - have you noticed when it is windy and raining they all stand facing the rain with their chests puffed out?

The level of the river soon rises following the rain and has washed away the mink scats (droppings) on the bank.

It is a good way to check what has been about and sometimes we even find otter spraint.

I would much rather find otter poo which has quite a pleasant smell than mink poo which certainly does not!

In both you can clearly see fish scales and little bones, rather like when you dissect owl pellets.

Tuesday, 3 November

Dodged the showers today and during a sunny spell it was off to Broaks Wood, a Forestry Commission woodland near Sible Hedingham, to enjoy the autumn colours there.

Berries on the spindle bushes add a dash of colour against overcast skies

Bit muddy underfoot and it was hard to keep our feet on the downhill sections - worth the struggle though - the beech trees look stunning in the sunlight with their leaves shimmering gold.

The spindle bushes laden with pink berries containing bright orange seeds always cheer me up.

The evening walk was along the river towards Coggeshall and the reflections of the dark clouds turned the water navy blue in places - very moody looking!

I was hoping to see the kingfisher, but all I saw was a solitary cormorant flying overhead.