Over the last week or so spiders have been on a web-building rampage around
house, garden and garage. Orb spiders generally outdoors; Rather leggy
"glass" ones inside (almost colourless and nearly invisible until they
move).

Today, Friday, a sudden flurry of song from several robins and the
reappearance of our blackbirds, looking rather smart in new feathers.

-- 
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

On Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:12:25 +0000 (GMT), Rodney Blackall
 wrote:

>Over the last week or so spiders have been on a web-building rampage around
>house, garden and garage.

Yesterday I had a real shock. Morning bath..reaching forward to pull
the plug and a colossal spider emerged from the overflow. Of course, I
organised a swift departure into the vortex as it emptied.
They are certainly around at the moment

R

On Sep 18, 11:12 pm, Rodney Blackall 
wrote:
> Over the last week or so spiders have been on a web-building rampage around
> house, garden and garage. Orb spiders generally outdoors; Rather leggy
> "glass" ones inside (almost colourless and nearly invisible until they
> move).
>
> Today, Friday, a sudden flurry of song from several robins and the
> reappearance of our blackbirds, looking rather smart in new feathers.
>
> --
> Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS)
> Buckingham, ENGLAND
> Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j

The first signs of autumn for me is someone creating a thread entitled
"The first signs of Autumn". This usually happens in August, so I
conclude that Autumn is late this year.

*>))

Rodney Blackall wrote:
> Over the last week or so spiders have been on a web-building rampage
> around house, garden and garage. Orb spiders generally outdoors;
> Rather leggy "glass" ones inside (almost colourless and nearly
> invisible until they move).
>
> Today, Friday, a sudden flurry of song from several robins and the
> reappearance of our blackbirds, looking rather smart in new feathers.

The house martins and swallows appear to be leaving as they are flying past, 
all heading in the same southerly direction.

The garden spiders have taken over the greenhouse and the craneflies are 
emerging from the lawn.

So, yep, autumn seems to be here despite today feeling very much like summer 
still.

Have yet to spot any colour change on the trees yet but I suspect the first 
golden hints won't be long coming.
________________
Nick.
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk

Nick Gardner wrote:
> Rodney Blackall wrote:
>> Over the last week or so spiders have been on a web-building rampage
>> around house, garden and garage. Orb spiders generally outdoors;
>> Rather leggy "glass" ones inside (almost colourless and nearly
>> invisible until they move).
>>
>> Today, Friday, a sudden flurry of song from several robins and the
>> reappearance of our blackbirds, looking rather smart in new feathers.
>
> The garden spiders have taken over the greenhouse and the craneflies
> are emerging from the lawn.
>
> Have yet to spot any colour change on the trees yet but I suspect the
> first golden hints won't be long coming.

My cotoneaster is certainly turning its crimson and a few leaves dropping 
off.

My other Autumn observation, paradoxically, is that the blue tits are taking 
an interest in the nest box and chasing each other around. I wonder if this 
is because the day-length is Spring-like even though the trend is the wrong 
way...

Mike.
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