Country diary 1918: grey squirrels now firmly established in the UK

15 October 1918 The somewhat destructive little Americans are rapidly taking the place of native red squirrelsThe morning mist yesterday screened from view much of the autumnal colour, but as it lifted we had, for once, a perfect October day, with moisture-glistening cobwebs stretched across the umber bracken and the scarlet or copper of the withering thorns. It is a long time now since we thought the last of the swifts had departed, yet it is less than a week since one was seen at Greenfield, where apparently it was successfully seeking food. Will this lonely traveller catch up those of its kind which left us so long ago? Who can tell? Every year some birds, tempted to linger by abundance of food, or too young and feeble to start when their companions leave, attempt the southward passage by themselves. Probably they do not know the way, but that strange impulse called, for lack of a better term, instinct sends them at any rate in the right direction. Related: 'Kill them, kill them, kill them': the volunteer army plotting to wipe out Britain's grey squirrels Continue reading...