As summer gives way to sutumn, many will be hoping for an Indian summer of fine, bright, settled weather. Birders will be looking for duller overcast skies, bringing some precipitation, making avian navigation more challenging, and causing birds to drop into suitable habitat to take a breather at such places as Otmoor and Farmoor.

With water and marsh alongside hedgerow and field, adequate food to sustain them will be taken. Most will feed on insects while others will find and utilise seeds.

In fine weather with a following wind, they mostly overfly our country and we miss seeing some real gems of the birding world. Look carefully in bushes, for the warblers, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler and lesser whitethroat can all be found with a little patience. Redstart often turn up along the River Thames and wheatear can be found on open ground. An attraction to farm manure heaps is also a noticeable trait.

Swallow will be leaving their temporary perches on telephone or electricity wires to launch themselves on the great adventure that will take them far, far away to spend our winter in Africa where the warmth will supply the insects they need. A very late swift is just a possibility but cuckoo and turtle dove have already left.

As one door closes so another opens and soon the sky will be full of our cold weather guests, of which fieldfare and redwing will be prominent. They will relish the haws of the hawthorn, heavily laden this year, and the fallen apples and pears of your garden and orchard will be readily taken.

Please remember modern autumn-sown cereal crops supply birds with virtually nothing of food value. Overwintering stubbles were a major source of winter sustenance 50 or 60 years ago. This is why it is important to help by feeding in our gardens. It is very noticeable when birding in the countryside, upon reaching human habitation, small- to medium-sized passerines are much in evidence due to garden bird feeding.

Barry Hudson Oxford Ornithological Society