Lingering summer...

The first day of October was one of those precious days, when summer lingers into autumn. Days when cool dewy mornings are followed by unending sunshine, with scarcely a breeze to ruffle the burnished foliage. 
For the first time for ages, I had the day to myself (once I'd got everyone onto trains and buses) and I spent part of it at Stanground Wash NR, which has been inaccessible for the summer, thanks to works to strengthen the river bank.

A surprising number of flowers were still in bloom, including sheets of smoky Blue Fleabane; the crimson and scarlet fruit of the hawthorns and wild roses were prolific and the first few fungi were appearing around the base of the small number of birch trees. All were photographed, but I couldn't resist this image of a tiny Brown Argus, sunning itself on a small pile of rabbit droppings. I can't remember seeing one quite so late in the year, but its days must surely be numbered.