The weather in the early part of the month was mostly dry with the odd shower now and again, but it was getting a lot cooler first thing in the morning. During this time the river level remained quite low. 
We have seen a lot more activity along the river as the migratory birds continue to come and go. The Redshank numbers are beginning to pick up after they started appearing back in the area around mid-month; at about the same time the Redwings and Fieldfares arrived in their hundreds. There is a far better crop of Rowan and Hawthorn berries for them all to feed on this year after their long flights.
We have also seen the odd Great Crested Grebe out on the river and one day there was a group of five Slovakian Grebes feeding close in near to the bothy. We also had the SSPCA back again on the 10th, when they released another 22 cygnets that had come from their rescue centre.
These cygnets have settled in to life on the river and are moving about the area and mixing in with some of the other swans that are about the place just now. We spent a bit more time this month picking fruit from a lot of the trees on the river bank, some of it will be kept to help feed the birds over the coming winter months and some of it went up to the café at our fishery where it was used in a variety of ways from puddings to jams for serving with the home made scones.
As we entered into the last third of the month the weather took a turn for the worse, after enjoying a long dry summer the rain finally came. It was relentless some days and the river was quick to rise as it came out in spate. The level fluctuated for the remainder of the month as the rains came and went. The little bilge pumps were kept busy during this time as the cobbles and old barge required frequent bailing out!
Jobs around the place have been varied with the weather this month, on some of the better days there was more weed cutting up at the fishery with our weed cutting boat.
After a bit of repair work to one of our grass cutters, the tractor was also busy getting round some more of the pathways giving them their final cut of the year. And keeping a stock pile of logs going for the wood burning stove in the café is a priority now that the colder weather is here.
There has also been more strimmer work, cutting back patches of Japanese Knotweed that are in some areas along the river side.
The month came to an end with a dropping river level, cooler temperatures and a bit less daylight after the clocks went back!