October in Treherbert Woods.

September finished with a splash, and that's exactly how October started, wet and wild with lots of rain and wind. Hoping for a break in the weather I grabbed my camera and headed over to the woods in the hope of seeing some bugs, birds and whatever else happened to be around, and also to record a short video for Welcome To Our Woods. 

Not many bugs around, but at least the day started off slightly  damp rather than actually raining.

Everything was taking on a much more autumnal feel now with colours definitely starting to change.

Not all the trees are changing yet, the oaks are still green, but the sycamore sapling is definitely changing colour. 

Most of the summer flowers are gone now, but there's still some Nipplewort around.

And a few parches of Meadow Buttercups by the stream under the Pixie Bridge.

As always there were a few robins around watching my every move, but these two were engrossed in each other and didn't give me a second glance!

The stream isn't looking too full considering the amount of rain we've had

But the camp site is looking distinctly muddy.

The water droplets dripping off the Alder catkins after the rain were looking beautiful in the dappled light.

The leaves are looking beautiful now catching the afternoon light.

                                             And they look just as lovely lying on the floor.

The fairy trail has been cleared away now, it's great to see the woods looking clean and tidy again, although if you look closely there are still a few signs that the fairies haven't completely abandoned the woods  😉.

And it's not just the fairy folk enjoying the woods, these two dogs were having a great time chasing each other around in the mud and splashing about in the stream.

One of the joys of Autumn is definitely seeing all the fungus starting to emerge. 

I'd come out with the intention of photographing insects but there was very little around. I did see this gorgeous little aphid though.

Although there have been a few beautiful days this month with lovely light and bright sunshine, unfortunately they haven't coincided with days I've been able to visit the woods, and rain has pretty much been the order of the month.

But on the very last day of October the sun finally came bursting through. Only for an hour or so, but it was enough for me to grab my boots and camera and rush out!

 

                           It was great to see a bit of blue sky between the trees for a change.

The camp site is looking great again now that  all the debris has been cleared up after the Fairy Trail. The fairies are lucky they left when they did, they'd have been pretty water logged now!

After all that rain it wasn't surprising to see so much water flowing under the Pixie Bridge. 

The paths were pretty muddy after all the rain, but looking lovely with the carpet of fallen leaves.

And the leaves still clinging to the trees were even more lovely with the sunlight shining through them.

I had hoped to see more birds, and even a squirrel or two, but there wasn't much around, not even the usual robin, but it was still worth the visit for this gorgeous light.

So after all the dreadful weather October did finally go out in a blaze of sunshine. Let's hope November is a bit drier. I'm looking forward to much more fungus, some bright crisp days, and maybe even some frost and snow. And one or two of those elusive squirrels would be a welcome sight too 😀