Autumn approaching

 It's starting to feel a bit more autumnal, the local Swifts have departed in the last few days and there are signs of other birds moving with Wheatears starting to appear on the moor. It's always nice to see birds with a background of flowering heather like this bird by the Triangle today.

Northern Wheatear - juvenile

i also had distant views of a female Merlin, shimmering slightly in the heat haze!

Merlin - adult female

An Osprey crossed the moor yesterday and what seems likely to be the same bird turned up at Carsington about 30 minutes later.