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Sorbus terminalis
From Top Right (Clockwise)..Malus x Zumi 'Professor Sprenger', Sorbus species (L946), Sorbus Bellonia, Sorbus Brigitta, Sorbus wardii, and Sorbus Rose Queen. [Please click to enlarge]
Finally the leaves of a Tilia henryana var. subglabra. Imagine the leaf turned upside down and you will see the shape of this beautiful tree. FAB 
A lot of use is made of large drifts of grasses....
and perennials that produce excellent flowers followed by superb seed heads.
Behind the borders are shrubs such as this Cotinus with its luscious dark leaves....
and this Pterocarya fraxinifolia a native from Turkey, Iran and Caucasus, with its dangling dark bracts and leaves turning to pale lemon before adding themselves as a mulch around the tree.
On the edge of the Arboretum this glorious fruit (Malus) was hanging heavy with the early morning dew and just waiting to be picked.
In a forthcoming post I will share some of the other colourful fruits in this abundant larder. FAB
The large seed feeder was being visited by Great & Blue Tits (but I only managed to snap the former), plus a brief flypast by a Nuthatch.
Robin and Dunnock were flitting through the low undergrowth while I enjoyed the sight of this very cheerful yellow Mahonia lomarifolia.
As I headed uphill towards the Fruit Fields and the Arboretum (Stage 2) Great Spotted Woodpecker called from overhead while a Song Thrush, Woodpigeons and the first Redwing was located high in one of the trees. A small flock of Greenfinches and a single Pied Wagtail also flew over shortly followed by a noisy gang of exotic green Rose-ringed Parakeets.
The Arboretum holds a large collection of Malus and Sorbus and it was pleasing to see the vast array of berries that will be food for our resident species and the winter migrants. Below is one example of Malus x Zumi 'Professor Sprenger' absolutely dripping with fruits.
A few Blackbirds were foraging through the trees and I gained some distant views of more Redwings and the first autumn sighting of a handful of Fieldfare again perched high in the tree tops together with a Mistle Thrush and a small flock of Starlings. There is a long line of Alders marking the boundary between the Fruit Fields and the Arboretum and it was here that I spotted a group of around 20 Siskin buisily feeding. They are very flighty and as I attempted to get closer they promptly moved further away. Using the bins I scanned all the Chaffinches but couldn't find any interlopers (e.g. Brambling). Other residents seen included Jays, Crow and Collared Doves.
I did however take some pics of the various food sources in the Arboretum larder and I will put a post together when I have more time. FAB.
Blackbirds on the lawn; Goldfinch perched by the pathway and House Martins wheeling 
The adult disappears into the nest hole.
Other sightings were Starling, Parakeet and Collared Dove bringing our total to 36.
So after introductions I led off towards the Wild Garden with David taking up the rear as usual. A Greenfinch confidingly perched on top of a nearby conifer and a male Blackbird was scouring the well trimmed lawn for worms, its favourite snack. Way in front of us on the path alongside the stream, below the Rock Garden was a waddling male Mallard and a Moorhen while one of the visitors located a Long-tailed Tit in the Oak tree. A Wren exploded into song from the undergrowth nearby. It never ceases to amaze me that its song comprises of around 70 – 100 individual notes and are blurted out in a matter of seconds. Next a pair of Dunnock were feeding either side of a pathway but quickly disturbed by other garden visitors walking towards us. Around the corner is one of the large garden seed feeders and everyone had exceptionally good views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeder together with a Rose-ringed Parakeet while both Chaffinch and Blue Tit tried to land on the perching rings but obviously thought better of it. 
As we entered the Wild Garden the most prominent sound was “chiff, chiff, chaff...chiff, chaff, etc.” and its owner a Chiffchaff was singing from atop one of the highest Oaks. Question from a lady participant...”Why do they sing”? Immediate response from The Early Birder was “I’ve survived the night, I’m fit, healthy and I’m up for it”. After the few giggles subsided I explained in a little more depth the basic reasons for bird song and that we should also listen out for other sounds such as alarm and contact calls just as a male Blackbird uttered a scolding warning and flew past us. My attention was interrupted by a call of “raptor overhead” by David so bins skyward and a brief look at a Common Buzzard as it flew over at some speed and probably not seen by many of our party. Well David did say at the start of the walk “Don’t forget to keep an eye on the sky above us as anything could fly over”, a very basic birding tip.
Out on the edge of the large grassy area of Seven Acres we had a close visit by a Pied Wagtail hunting for insects on the lawn. The next songster spotted, again high in a tree, was a Mistle Thrush but clear views obscured by the emerging foliage. This thrush often sings ahead of bad weather and has earned the name ‘Storm Cock’ but today the sky was clear although it was chilly out of the sun. David and I had both heard a Blackcap singing (another migrant visitor, although many no longer return to Africa at the end of summer but overwinter in the south of the UK) but the question was could we find it. I’ve never found it easy to explain its song a rich fluty warble with a noticeably mumbling, uncertain, hesitant beginning and a strong whistling finish. The song is very variable and may include imitations including that of a Garden Warbler with which it is often confused. Every time it started to sing I pointed in the general direction but this warbler usually delivers its song from a concealed perch between 4 – 13 m above ground and we followed this individual as it moved through the shrubbery for some 10 minutes without success.
Moving on to the path overlooking the River Wey near the Pump House we were delighted to locate a Grey Wagtail, constantly twitching its tail while striding along a small sandy area on the opposite bank and then flying to a tree stump perch further downstream. Many of our regulars have been fortunate to see Kingfisher at this location on previous walks as they have nested in the river bank over many years. However a lot of work has recently been carried out to on the far bank (Golf Course) to repair and prevent erosion so we think the Kingfishers have probably sought out a quieter location for this year but there is always the possibility that you will see them fly by – just listen for their high pitch whistle. [Tuesday update - I saw Kingfisher flying up river today so we will have to keep an eye open to see if they are nesting again].
Great Tits were also seen carrying nesting material as we waited for any other activity. 
The next sightings were a Goldcrest and a pair of Jays while David located a Treecreeper. I eventually got most of the group onto it as it flew to its nest entrance just under the bark of a Pinus radiata and only 6 feet from the base of the tree. 
As we continued towards the ‘Wildlife Area’ some of the party caught sight of a Grey Heron in flight. We spent a little while looking into this protected area where the river has created a natural pool often frequented by Kingfisher and a bird hide is to be built this year mainly for educational use by children. As we entered the ‘Wildlife Area’ attention was drawn to the Owl box high up on a Pine that for some time has been occupied by Grey Squirrels but has now been cleaned out. Could it be used by something else, well something shot over us and our thoughts were probably a Kestrel. [It was later confirmed by garden staff that a pair of Kestrels have been seen prospecting this box – good news indeed.] Once again intermittent bird song from Robin, Wren and another Blackcap but nothing actually seen apart from Starling and then a Mute Swan on another sand bar in the river as we exited this reserve area.
Whilst capturing these images I was seranaded with the sounds from Chaffinches, Greenfinch, Robin, Treecreeper, Blue & Great Tits, Wrens and a BLACKCAP, so I'll be re-visiting regularly to see if he takes up residence in the same location as previous years.
I have been visiting Whichford Pottery, in Warwickshire, both on business and for pleasure for over 10 years. I am always fascinated to see both new designs of traditional 'hand thrown' English terracotta pots and how they use older pots within the pottery and the owners garden.
One of the smaller 'show' gardens designed by / for children & a radical (or radial) seed feeder. 
Saltpans near Bourgas
European Bee-Eaters
White Stork
Red-backed Shrike
