Saturday 19th October 9.15 – 10.00 a.m.
A chilly but lovely sunny Saturday morning in Jubilee Stone Wood.
Autumn in the woods on a chilly but sunny Saturday morning. My visit today takes me to the top of Jubilee Stone Wood. I park up, enter via bridleway and head along the permissive path towards the Horsering meadow.
Water drips off the trees after the heavy rain last night but the promise of a dry sunny day is in the air. In front of me are some old apple trees laden with small apples and to the left there are Blackberries still left on the bushes. There is too much fruit for us to make use of so hopefully a stock of winter food for the woodland residents. A heavy Wood Pigeon is disturbed by my presence and flaps noisily out of one of the apple trees sending water raining down on me.
Whilst I dry off a soggy notebook I hear a Robin singing in the undergrowth close by and Goldfinches twittering and warbling overhead. A Great Spotted Woodpecker chips then I hear the alarm call of a Blackbird, then a Chiff Chaff warming up its song and a number of Blue Tits communicating as they pass by me flitting through the trees. It’s wonderful to hear so many sounds of birds again after the long, quiet summer. In particular it is good to see and hear Blackbirds again. Some recent arrivals but most just reappearing and establishing their territories and food rights before the winter influx of Redwing and Fieldfare, who come to compete for the winter berries.
I’ve barely reached the Horsering as there is so much activity. Weekend walkers and their wet dogs are enjoying the early peace and quiet and the chance to stroll without having to rush. It is a pleasure to see how well behaved and gentle these early riser dogs are as they enjoy the walk, the smells and the fresh air.
Just as I note a squirrel passing quietly overhead to avoid the attention of the spaniel by my feet, I hear the loud alarm call and see a very fluffy and strident Wren moving up down and around a small tree up ahead. 
Wrens are notable for having one of the loudest alarm calls of the woods and they can be relied on to be the first to complain when an unwanted visitor appears. With their short brown tail raised, their rattling alarm and, if really fraught, their rapid movement the Wren is guaranteed to catch attention. They certainly make up for their size and brown colouring with the force of their personalities.
Wrens are one of our most common birds of the UK and overwinter here generally successfully. However they have a weakness when it comes to the cold so despite all their feistiness, when cold weather hits, Wrens will sometimes sacrifice their territories to snuggle up and stay warm together. I was amused to learn that the word wrenne comes from Middle English and means little tail.
The dogs have moved on and so should I so the Wren can get some short-lived peace. I take a right turn immediately after the Horsering meadow and then another right to head back along the bridleway towards my car. As I do, a band of Jackdaws pass overhead cackling as they fly in the direction of the quarry, where the sunshine and the rising air will no doubt provide plenty of entertainment.
Time for me to leave for the day and look forward to returning to enjoy plenty more autumn colours and sounds.