Total monthly rainfall: 156.5 milimetres. Maximum daily rainfall: 31.5 millimetres on 3^rd October.

Altogether there were 24 days when measurable rain fell, and 19 days with 100% cloud-cover for at least part of the day.

Maximum temperature on the warmest day was 17°C on October 8^th, and on the coldest days was 11°C on the 25^th and 28th. There were strong winds throughout the month on October 3^rd, 4^th, 8^th, 20^th, 21^st, 24th, 27^th, and 31^st.

Wildflower sightings produced the return of herb robert, together with the last-sighting of a white water-lily on October 1^st. We saw the last water-mint beside the lake on the 11^th; the last common fleabane in the flower meadows on the 18^th; the last bird’s foot trefoil lakeside on the 19^th. Last dark mullein occurred in the front meadow on the 22^nd, and there followed last redshank and red clover on the 26^th.

• 70 plus Canada geese 70 plus Canada geese
• Clouded yellow on knapweed Clouded yellow on knapweed
• Green brindled crescent moth Green brindled crescent moth
• Ripe holly berries Ripe holly berries
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With much insect-unfriendly weather during the month we had no new sightings of butterflies. Potential last-sightings were, however, as follows:  Small white and clouded yellow on October 6^th, common blue and small copper on 7^th October, and speckled wood on the 12^th. Red admiral on the 6^th is unlikely to be a last sighting.

There were also no new sightings of dragonflies, with the last southern hawker appearing on the 6^th, and willow emerald on the 23^rd. The migrant hawker on the 26^th, and common darter on the 28^th may not be the last this year.

There were, however, two new moth sightings indoors during the month. On the 17^th the identity of the moth was inconclusive, while on the 26^th we photographed a green-brindled crescent moth to light in the upstairs bathroom. This was identified by Keith Palmer, and is new to our site.

Notable wild bird sightings this month began on October 6^th with four house martins feeding across our lake at the start of their autumn migration. On the 16^th we spotted a flock of over 30 goldfinches feeding on fleabane and knapweed in our eastern wildflower meadow, and on the 28^th there were 300 plus starlings gathering noisily on a boundary oak as dusk approached. By the 31^st there were 21 mallards on the lake. Canada geese, including our home-bred group, continued to visit and leave in varying numbers of between 5 and over 70 every few days. Between 1 and 3 grey wagtails continued to be seen around the shoreline of both woodland ponds until the 19^th.

Two well-known fungi appeared during the month. On the 15^th, the first three parasol mushrooms appeared in the pastures, while on the 30^th five fly agaric appeared -only to be rapidly devoured by some unknown creature.

Autumn development among trees and shrubs began with the first ivy flowers and first colouring of oak leaves on the 3^rd. Oak tree and horse chestnut leaves started falling on the 4^th, before a pause until the 21^st, when the first hornbeams reached full leaf-tint. Next day (22^nd) field maple followed, and on the 24^th the first poplar was bare. By the 25^th the elder had lost its remaining leaves and the hawthorn was in full autumn leaf-colour. By the 29^th some of the oak trees were in full-tint, while leaf-fall was beginning on the wild cherry.