It really was a beautifully warm last day of October: 17.5 degrees, shirtsleeves only in the sunshine. The trees were going golden, the berries red, the burrs and teasels a warm brown.

Robins were singing, as always. On the lake, the first few winter ducks (three drake Gadwall) have arrived, but the general air was of late summer languor, and walking had that feeling of unreality that comes from knowing that everything is, just now, totally lovely and free, whatever frost, wind, rain, or manmade disaster may come along tomorrow.

A little twittering flock of Goldfinches blew by; a Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel lent colour to the meadow. It was warm, dry, and lovely.