Influx of jays.........

Apparently there has been an influx of jays this Autumn from mainland Europe in search of acorns. I watched a large group flying high against a beautiful blue sky a couple of weeks ago at Rainham Marshes in Essex, which is unusual behaviour for a species that tends to keep to well-wooded areas. However, I find jays are always more visible at this time of year as they seek out oak trees and start burying acorns for future consumption, perhaps an important element of the tree's own strategy for seed dispersal. Anyway, keep an eye out for them - they are surprisingly big (most people do not realise they are a type of crow) and have a raucous call - especially if you have oaks nearby.