October 21, 1906 Gowan Bank, Olton, Warwickshire

One of my favorite nature books is "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady," by Edith Holden (a facsimile reproduction of a naturalist’s diary from the year 1906). Every now and then I pop open the book to see if she had an entry for that day so many years ago. Here is her entry for today in 1906:

"The last of our summer visitants has taken his departure. About a fortnight ago a Chiff-chaff was constantly to be seen hopping about the Goose-berry bushes in the garden; --the last to leave us, he is usually the first to arrive. But the Tom-tits are returning in great numbers to their old haunts in the garden, which they have deserted during the summer. They flutter about the wall and the windows of the house, I believe with a secret hope of finding a cocoa-nut waiting for them.
Large flocks of Starlings, Sparrows and Finches are securing the stubble and grass fields now, they will soon be joined by the Redwings and Fieldfares. We have had another week of warm, rainy weather."

It's fun to peer into her world and read about her love of birds and nature. I don't know why, but I like knowing that so many years ago another person loved birds and nature so much she also wanted to write about them daily. A talented artist, she captured what she saw in beautiful watercolors I admire.

...and because of all of the wonderful British bird blogs I read, I know what Yellowhammers are (and Chiff-chaffs...Tom-tits...and Redwings...), so now I appreciate her book even more.