Sunday 1^st September, a very humid morning, 16c at 7.00am. A dry, dull, cloudy, and misty morning, a lot of low cloud hanging about. Quiet on the Barff this morning, a Robin was very vocal singing its head off in the car park and its family members continued all around the woodland, occasionally accompanied by the Wrens, equally as vocal. I watched several Grey Squirrels scampering amongst the tree branches, stopping every now and then for a small fight before running off around the tree trunks and along the branches. A yellow weather warning was in force from the early hours of this morning till midnight tonight for thunder and heavy rain.

Monday 2^nd September, a yellow weather warning for thunder and heavy rain is currently in force again today for the next twenty-four hours. The thunder never materialized at all yesterday in our part of the county. This morning started with thick fog and a low mist which lingered till mid-morning on the woodland. It was very humid with a temperature of 16c at 7.30am eventually rising to 20c by lunchtime. Although very humid the Barff was a hive of activity this morning, Robins were very vocal all over the Barff singing their heads off, they kept me company on my rambles around the woodland this morning. Chiffchaff, Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits all played their part in this morning’s dawn chorus all be it a trifle late, and to crown it off we had the Buzzard contributing its twopeneth worth, circling high amongst the mist above the top paddock. A pair of Jays sounded as though they were having a bit of a disagreement between themselves, their screeching call quite distinctive as they hung around the top perimeter fence. Autumn certainly felt in the air this morning, the Rowan berries looked a vibrant orange and added some colour to an otherwise dull, cloudy and miserable morning. The Creeping Thistles on the top paddock have all but turned to seed and were covered in cobwebs this morning. The two big Sycamore trees also on the top paddock are starting to shed their leaves, forming an intricate pattern as they land on the woodland floor, the different colours never cease to amaze me, from a deep green to light green, then yellow, gold to brown and within a few days they dry out and curl up.

Tuesday 3^rd September, A dull, cloudy, and overcast morning. Very humid 15c. Robin and Chiffchaff were very vocal around the Barff this morning. I had a busy day filming today so it was a relatively short walk with Meg and Gracie.

Wednesday 4^th September, Rain in the early hours but quite dry on the Barff due to the dense tree canopy. It was another a dull, cloudy, and overcast morning, a little cooler than yesterday at 12c. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker was alarm calling around the car park, probably due to some Grey Squirrel activity in that area. Robins, Wrens, and Chiffchaff were very vocal this morning, accompanied by the steady cooing of the Collard Doves and Wood Pigeons. As we gently walked down the sandy slope adjacent to the Bypass I watched three Grey Squirrels scampering along the top rail of the wooden fence, jumping off at the far end before clambering back up the fence and retracing their steps from where they had just come from! Blackbirds were busily searching for food amongst all the freshly fallen leaf litter. We had rain showers on and off all day today.

Thursday 5^th September, heavy rain during the early hours of the morning made for a very wet walk through the woodland, to the delight of Meg and Gracie. It was a dull, cloudy. and overcast morning, 14c and very humid. Robin, Wren, and Chiffchaff were very vocal around the car park area, A little higher up on the top paddock the pair of Jays were making quite a commotion close to the perimeter fence again. It was good to hear the Green Woodpecker yaffing away inside the top compound.

Friday 6^th September. We had a lovely mornings walk in the woodland, 21c, dry bright and very walm. Robin, Wren, and Chiffchaff very chatty along with Great Tit, Blue tit, and Blackbird. A short walk this morning as we were all heading up to Bedale after breakfast for a walk around Thorpe Perrow Arboretum.

Saturday 7^th September, A very humid morning, 16c, dull and cloudy, rain was forecast later in the morning. It was a good birdsong morning, Robin, Wren, Dunnock all very vocal around the woodland, a flock of Long Tailed Tits were chirping away in the hawthorn bushes along the Bypass trail. I spotted a red Beefsteak fungus coming out of a crack in one of the younger Oak trees, at first, I thought someone had stuffed a red sock into the crack, such was its texture.

Sunday 8^th September. It was a very wet morning, rain started at approximately 3.00am and finished around noon. Very humid morning 16c, with a light Westerly breeze. Meg and Gracie were not happy as I put their waterproof jackets on them this morning, but once they got walking were fine with them on. Birdsong was quite muffled and drowned out by the noise of the rain on the leaves. Tiny rivulets of water were running down from the Barff summit and crossing the main perimeter footpath, leaving sand and twiglets in its wake. We added the Bypass trail to our walk this morning as we do most weekends, the footpath from the Barff heading down the slope to the Mill Lane junction was awash with water, a tiny stream was flowing the full length of the footpath, deep enough in places to wash over the top of your footwear. A small bunch of Ox eyed daisies brought a bit of colour to an otherwise wet and damp morning. The rain had started to bring down a lot of autumnal leaf litter. I was greeted by a small group of Long-Tailed Tits as we reached the footbridge crossing the Bypass, they were quietly chattering away deep in the hawthorn hedge. It was nice to see a small flock of sheep grazing in one of Sherwood’s fields on the left as we walked around the perimeter footpath again.

Monday 9^th September 2024, a dull, damp, and miserable start to the week 12c, it was much cooler than yesterday with a fine drizzle in the air and a light westerly breeze. Yesterday’s wet weather and the rain in the early hours of this morning made it very wet underfoot, it was a wellie walk for me this morning. Birdsong was very vocal with Wren and Robin taking the lead, ably accompanied by Chiffchaff, Long Tailed Tits and Great Tits, the Blackbirds were busy in the background scavenging around looking under the leaf litter for breakfast. A pair of Crows were alarm calling as we walked past them on the top paddock, I do not think they were happy about us being there. It was a good fungi day today, several Beefsteak fungi had appeared over the weekend along with more Earthballs and Polypore, in fact one of them just reminded me of a freshly fried omelette! The leaves are starting to change colour, especially the Sycamore and young Oak trees. Common Thistle, Ragwort and Rosebay Willowherb have all turned to seed, although the Bramble bushes are still full of ripe fruit, their leaves are beginning to darken as they prepare themselves for the cooler months ahead.

Tuesday 10^th September was a dull, wet, and rainy morning, 13c v humid, I got as wet on the inside of my jacket as the outside this morning. Meg and Gracie were not happy about having to wear their waterproof jackets today either. I could not hear any birdsong due to the sound of the rain hitting the tree canopy.

Wednesday 11^th September, a dry, bright, and sunny morning, 8c, much colder than yesterday morning with a light north westerly breeze. Robin, Chiffchaff and Wren very vocal, especially around the car park area and the old oak swing tree. Had a look for Acorns today but looks as though it is going to be a poor year for them on the Barff.

Thursday 12^th September, Another chilly start to the day, 5c at 7.00am, it was a dry, bright, and sunny morning, wet underfoot from rain during the early hours, with a cool, westerly breeze. Robin, Chiffchaff and Wren very vocal all over the Barff this morning, the Sycamore leaves are beginning to turn a beautiful golden-brown colour. Beefsteak fungi, Stinkhorn and Earthballs very noticeable this morning.

Friday 13^th September, a cold, dry, bright, and sunny morning, a touch of frost at 6.30am, 3c, a slight sunrise and low cloud made a very cold and atmospheric morning. Birdsong was very muted, the birds preferred to have an extra 30 minutes in bed with it being so cold outside. Robins though were singing around the car park.

Saturday 14^th September, a cloudy morning with light drizzle in the air, 12c and much warmer than yesterday with a light westerly breeze. It was noticeably quiet on the Barff; I didn’t see many humans during the two hours I spent there. Robins and Wren were singing their heads off. There was a lot of fallen apples along the Bypass trail. Meadow pipit and Long Tailed Tits very vocal along the trail. We watched several young rabbits playing for a few minutes on the top paddock, their little white tails bobbing up and down as they ran through the grass and into the Bramble bushes.

Sunday 15^th September, a beautiful sunrise at 6.45am, which did not last for long as it soon disappeared under the low cloud and imminent threatening rain. 12c, and no breeze. It was noticeably quiet. A pair of Grey Squirrels were playing tag with each other as they scampered along the wooden fence surrounding the car park. Long Tailed Tits were very vocal along the Bypass trail, singing merrily in the Hawthorn bushes lining the sides of the footpath. Up on the top paddock, several rabbits were playing on the edge of the Bramble patch, they soon disappeared into the Brambles once they saw me approaching. Robin, Wren, and Chiffchaff were very vocal all over the woodland this morning. There was a lot of fungi popping up through the undergrowth, especially Beefsteak, Stinkhorn and Earthball.

Monday 16^th September. A lovely cool dry morning, 6c, no wind. A heavy overnight dew making the grass very wet especially around the top paddock, much to the delight of Meg & Gracie. Gray Squirrels were active around the woodland this morning, a pair were sat on the fence close to the old pump house, and several other were scampering about around the old oak swing tree. There was a lot of birdsongs around the woodland this morning including a pair of buzzards circling high above the Maize field, they were quite high up, but it was their alarm calling that alerted me to them. Robins, Wrens, and Chiffchaff were out singing, enjoying the beautiful bright and warming sunshine. Up around the top paddock the Goldcrest could be heard chattering away to itself, several of them were singing their heads off with their delicate songs, accompanied by a solitary Treecreeper and several Great and Blue Tits, lovely to hear for a few minutes.

Tuesday 17^th September. A cold, foggy, and misty morning, the sunlight was trying to break through the low-lying cloud. The Spiders’ webs looked beautiful this morning, highlighted by the heavy dew which covered their intricate webs, the top paddock was covered in them this morning, even Meg and Gracie had dew covered eyebrows by the time we finished our walk today. There was lots of birdsong this morning, our resident Robins, Wrens, and Goldcrest all had their hats and scarves on today, it was nice to hear their dulcet tones drift through the cold morning air.

Wednesday 18^th September, a dull, and misty start to the day,11c, and the briefest of sunrises around 6.45am when the sun slowly rose to the left of St Wilfred’s church, no sooner did it appear than it was engulfed in a heavy band of mist. Robin was the main chorist this morning accompanied by a lone Chiffchaff and several Wrens. I noticed some fresh Deer Mushrooms which must have popped up overnight, growing on one of the old rotten Oak tree stumps.

Thursday 19^th September, we were up and on the Barff for 6.30am this morning, it was a dull, misty, and cloudy start to the day and quite dusky dark, the nights are certainly getting longer. It was very still and cold on the woodland this morning, 10c, no wind to speak of. Robins and Wrens were fighting for airspace, singing their heads off. Up on the top paddock we watched several young rabbits playing on the area that was once covered in Brambles but recently cut back by the Wardens team. It looked as though they have been having lessons on how to dig burrows. As we made our way off the top paddock and through the trees towards the old farm shop a Green Woodpecker suddenly let out three screeching yaffles, which was nice to hear again, I hope they settle in the woodland, several years ago there was at least two pair up here, you could regularly hear them calling and if you were exceptionally lucky see them too. As we approached the service road, I could hear the distinctive call of the Buzzard calling high above the tree canopy.

Friday 20^th September, A dull and overcast morning, 14c, it was quite humid with a light westerly breeze rustling through the trees. It was quiet on the Barff this morning, There was plenty of Robins singing and clicking amongst the trees around the woodland, Wrens and Dunnocks occasionally joined in the dawn chorus. There was a lot of new Bank Vole holes appearing along the wet muddy tracks, they are active during both the day and night, and forage over distances up to 50 metres. The males sometimes travel further to find a mate. They make their nests in shallow burrows that they dig just beneath the ground, which they line with leaves, grasses, moss, or feathers. They are very nimble climbers and often climb up bushes to nibble fruit and buds. They have a lifespan of around eighteen months. Their main predator being the Tawny Owls, Weasels and Foxes. Fungi continues to shoot up and grow, the Beefsteak fungus I spotted at the beginning of the month has more than doubled its size, Earthballs are appearing alongside the main perimeter path and tracks in the woodland. Sulphur Tufts are starting to show in small clusters on the rotting tree stumps.

Saturday 21^st September a Dull, cloudy and overcast morning, v humid, 16c at 7.30am with a light easterly breeze. The earlier light rain shower had just wet the grass a little but otherwise it was dry for the remainder of the morning. Saturday was a Robin day, they were singing and chattering everywhere in the woodland this morning, even accompanying the Long-Tailed Tits along the Bypass Trail. Back on the Barff close to the old farm shop, the sheep were contently grazing in one of Sherwood’s fields. Alongside the service road a pair of Goldcrests where twittering away to each other, they have a lovely quietish high-pitched song, "tweedly tweedly tweedly twiddleedidee". Not far away a singing Great Tit with its distinctive piercing call "teacher-teacher" song” it always reminds me of a squeaky, rusty wheelbarrow wheel. Up on the top paddock a Chiffchaff was busily singing its head off, they should be emigrating anytime now back to the warmer climes of the Mediterranean and western Africa. No sign of the Green Woodpecker this morning. Fungi continues to thrive, the Beefsteak on the old Oak trees was looking quite red and grotesque, clumps of Sulphur Tuft are forming on one or two of the dead Silver Birch trees and new Birch Polypore seems to appear daily.

Sunday 22^nd. The first day of Autumn 2024 and it is a dull, cloudy, and overcast morning, light drizzle is in the air, 15c with a cool easterly breeze. A quiet day on the Barff, especially this morning. Lots of Birdsong though which kept the spirits up, Robin and Wren were particularly vocal all around the woodland, and along the Bypass trail Robin, Blackcap, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit and Greenfinch were singing their heads off, between what was the old farm shop and main car park a pair of Goldcrests were chattering away to themselves. Grey Squirrels were more active than of late, a pair dashed across the perimeter path just before the service road and into fallen tree debris laying at the side of the footpath. Up on the top paddock a pair of Jays were squawking away to each other, I wonder if it is they who have been stripping the Acorns from the Oak trees and stashing them for the Winter months? I counted four young rabbits playing close to the Bramble patch, as soon as we made eye contact, they disappeared into the relative safety of their burrows deep inside the Brambles. It was nice to see the red berries on the Holly bushes, they only appear on the female plants, it just reminded me of the oncoming winter months.

Monday 23^rd, and a very wet, dull, and rainy morning,13c, waterproof dog jackets on Meg and Gracie this morning. The heavy rain started in the early hours and continued till mid-morning making the ground very wet and muddy. The autumnal colours are beginning to come to the fore, the huge Horse Chestnut tree on the side of the road opposite the service entrance to the woodland is a picture at this time, its huge golden leaves hanging precariously from its wet sagging branches. Several Oak trees are also changing colour too along with many of the Silver Birch trees. There is a lot of fresh fungi which seems to have shot up overnight, especially Sulphur Tuft which has covered several of the rotten tree stumps. Robin and Wren provided much of the birdsong all around the woodland, accompanied here and there with the light delicate sounds of the Goldcrest, one of the smallest birds we have on the Barff.

Tuesday 24^th, a dull, cloudy, and overcast morning 12c, with a light westerly breeze, I heard at least four Robins singing their heads off between the car park and the old pumping station. Sulphur Tuft fungi is shooting up all over. It was just a short walk as one of the dogs became lame. I read earlier this morning that parts of the midlands and Gloucestershire had a month’s worth of rainfall in Twenty-four hours yesterday, fortunately we missed the heaviest of that rain in our part of the Country. Good to see the field opposite the car park entrance has been ploughed over and prepared for its winter crop.

Wednesday 25^th September. A cooler and drier morning, 10c, quite wet underfoot from overnight rain. Robins were very vocal around the car park area. Several varieties of fungi was popping up including Sulphur Tuft, Common Earthball, Birch Polypore and Beef Steak. Goldcrest very vocal and chatty between the service road and the car park. The sun managed to break through the low cloud by 9.00am. The Maize field is looking good, standing at six foot tall, it should provide a useful source of food for the Grey Squirrels when they go on their raiding parties due to the lack of Acorns around the woodland.

Thursday 26^th September, a very humid and misty morning, 13c, very little if any breeze this morning. The woodland felt quiet this morning, we had some heavy overnight rain which made the tracks and undergrowth very wet and quite muddy in places. The rain had stopped between 6.30am till 11.30am resulting in a dry walk albeit quite sweaty due to wearing my waterproofs in anticipation of the heavy rain. Wren and Robins were exceptionally loud and vocal on our walk through the woodland, often accompanied with Long Tailed Tits, Great Tits and Coal Tits, it was lovely to hear on a dull and murky morning although at one stage the sun did manage to break through the cloud as we were walking over the top paddock. We had a Mistle Thrush in our garden yesterday feeding in one of the trees, I have not yet heard one on the Barff yet although I am certain they must be there feeding on the abundance of berries. It was a good morning for spotting Fungi, Beef Steak, Sulphur Tuft and Common Earthball especially, there will be lots more to come due to the weather being as it is at this time. A yellow weather warning for heavy rain is currently in place for twenty-four hours till midnight tonight.

Friday 27^th September, a dull and overcast start to the day and a much cooler morning, 9c with a light NW breeze. Very wet underfoot from yesterday afternoon and evenings persistent rain. I have been wearing my wellies all week as they prevent the bottom of my trousers getting blathered up in mud. The sun managed to break through the low cloud and by mid-morning the temperature had risen to 12c with a much fresher Northerly breeze. Robin and Wren were very vocal all over the woodland today and from what was the old farm shop to the car park the high dulcet tones of the Goldcrest contributed with its early morning song. Lots more fungi popped up overnight, several clusters of Sulphur tuft look to have been nibbled at. Towards the end of our walk, just as we were leaving the strengthening breeze was beginning to blow the leaves off the trees which were falling like confetti making a golden blanket on the woodland floor.

Saturday 28^th September. A beautiful sunrise to start the day and a touch of overnight frost, 2c at 7.00am, a lovely dry, bright, and sunny morning. It was good to hear the Buzzard busy calling in the field opposite the Barff’s car park entrance. Robin and Wrens were very vocal in all areas of the woodland this morning, despite the cold. Spotted more fungi along the Bypass trail.

Sunday 29^th September, a cold, dry morning 5c with another beautiful sunrise at 7.00am, unfortunately the sun soon disappeared behind the low-lying mist, not reappearing again till late morning. A pair of Jays were having a squabble on the perimeter path close to the old firing range. Robin, Wren, and Great Tit were very vocal around the woodland. Large areas of Bracken is beginning to change into a Golden-brown colour as it dies back in preparation for the colder winter months. Fallen apples along the Bypass trail are providing sustenance for some of our smaller invertebrates, the fruit trees have been laden with apples this year. I note a Yellow warning has been issued for 8.00am tomorrow for heavy rain and winds, so we could be back to wet and muddy walks again.

Monday 30^th September, well, here we are at the end of the month, a dull, wet, and breezy morning, 11c and so much warmer than yesterday morning. A small flock of Wood Pigeons took off from the perimeter track when we arrived this morning, between fifteen to twenty birds, you could feel the sudden woosh of air as they flew over our heads. The rain was persistent this morning, good wet rain and a cooling westerly breeze made for quite a miserable start to the day. Robins and Wrens brightened up the morning with their constant singing around the woodland, the strengthening breeze made it difficult to hear the other birds. It was very wet and muddy underfoot from yesterday afternoons and this morning’s heavy rain. I was surprised to see that some of the Gorse bushes alongside of the Bypass trail were coming into flower this morning, their tiny yellow florets scattered amongst the greenery and spikey thorns. This Gorse does not usually start to flower till January. I spotted my first Fly Agaric up near the Barff summit this morning, it did look as though something has had a nibble of it, but it did bring a spot of colour to the undergrowth and was nice to see. The heavy rain continued all afternoon with the yellow weather warning due to expire at 3.00am on Tuesday morning.