Last night was full moon, and I went out for a dusky walk just as it appeared above the trees like a ripe apricot. Lovely to feel the warm air rising off the road and see the bats flitting round catching insects, and watch the moon gradually shrink and pale as it sailed higher in the sky.

Meanwhile, in another field the rape harvest was still in full swing. Those who think that the countryside is quiet and clean should try standing a few feet away from the harvester, being showered in chaff!

(I am playing about with an old manual lens on my digital camera, so these are probably not as well-exposed as they could have been. But you get the general idea!)

Something alarming in the tiny world of my feral pheasants: last night, Mum, Dad and Chick appeared for their evening feast of corn, sultanas and porridge oats, accompanied for the first time by an almost fully-grown youngster, who I shall call Teenager.

Teenager proceeded to chase Chick away, pecking at it and driving it down the garden away from the food. Then all three, minus Chick, went off together. Mum did a desultory search for her missing offspring, but was soon distracted by the other two moving off.

This morning, Chick was in the garden alone, cheeping rather disconsolately, or so I imagine. I took some corn out, but unfortunately, managed to frighten it off - it flew into the field at the back. Mum and Dad came by for breakfast about 30 mins later, but no sign of a fmaily reunion.

So - I feel really terrible. If I'd stayed inside, they would probably have met up by now. I'm sure people will think - 'for goodness sake, why's she making such a drama out of everyday stuff?' True - but if God really cares for every sparrow - then I don't feel in bad company for worrying for one small bird in my garden.

Oh - if anyone else has seen such behaviour or knows why it happens, I'd be interested to hear.

This morning, I went out ragworting in our field: a very usual activity for this time of year. Once the yellow flowers show, it's easy to see where the plants are growing, and root them out. Then into a plastic sack to stop any seeds escaping till we have a bonfire.

Wonder #1: a sunny, breezy warm day - almost like summer. What a change!

Wonder #2: we have a small stream that, until now, has only flowed in the late autumn and winter. It drains runoff from a field higher up the hill. This morning, it was in full flow. Every other summer, it has been bone dry for months on end.

Wonder #3. Yellow wax-cap mushrooms growing in the pasture. I've never seen them except in late September/October before.

So - just a freak wet spell - or is the climate really changing?

Our resident pheasant cock, of whom I have written in the past, has gradually lost all his four or five wives over the past three months, and has been solitary for the last one.

So, I was very pleased to see him with a hen and a single chick yesterday and today. I assume while the hens are nesting, they can't forage far for food, and so couldn't visit the garden. I wonder if any more will reappear with families?

The chicks are just so endearing - miniature versions of their mothers, and they run so fast, they look like little wind-up toys. Aaaah.

Sorry about the crummy photo - they move very fast and it was a dark day, so the longish exposure wasn't ideal.