Finally, and quite abruptly, real autumn has arrived, bringing with it a hint of winter.

Temperatures have fallen sharply to their seasonal norm with the first frost and squally rain helping trees shed their foliage.

Leaves litter the ground and the childhood glee of kicking them is tempered somewhat by the rain lending a squishy sound rather than a crisp scattering in all directions.

Robins are in full voice and I've seen my first small flock of redwings. All birds are now resplendent in winter plumage; mallard and mandarin drakes jealously guard new conquests; black headed gulls have lost their chocolate brown caps leaving just a small dark mark behind their eyes while swans attempt to chase away their own brown feathered cygnets.

My garden feeders are becoming busier as natural food sources decline. A recent survey reveals a welcome and sizeable increase in the great tit population and this is reflected in the number visiting along with blue and dainty coal tits, the latter appearing to have large heads out of proportion to their tiny bodies.

As the breeding season approaches, foxes are starting to bark at night, the 'wow-wow-wow' calls of dog foxes contrasting with banshee screaming of vixens.

Exactly twenty years ago I wrote my first 'Nature Notes' column for Newsquest,expressing delight at the colours of autumn. However, two decades ago leaf fall would have been more advanced than it is now so it just shows how climate change is having a noticeable effect on our seasons.