SEPTEMBER air, so clear and fair; a time of swansongs for some creatures.

Others however – such as several types of geese – will be hitting our shores over the next few weeks as they leave their northern breeding grounds to seek respite from the rapidly approaching Arctic winter.

But for me, September is all about softly lit backgrounds against a gently waning sun.

There is a special sharpness to the air that invigorates the heart.

It is also a peak time to see all kinds of wildlife and among the most striking are red admiral and peacock butterflies.

Both species are total sugar junkies at this time of year, actively seeking out nectar from late flowering plants or settling upon rotting windfall apples to sup their sweetness.

If you have a buddleia growing in your garden, the chances are its purple flower spikes will be a magnet for both these types of butterfly at the moment.

I’ve already spotted the first goose arrivals in Clackmannanshire – a huge gaggle of greylags grazing in a field near Cambus.

A flock of sand martins swirled in the air above them; a case of winter and summer wildlife coming together for a brief spell.

One morning last week, when walking by the River Devon, I heard sweet music drifting across the air – a male dipper staking out his territory.

It was a song to lift the spirits; it might be early autumn, but already some of our creatures are preparing for next year’s breeding season.

The cycle of life never stops, with each ending turning seamlessly into a new beginning.

@BroomfieldKeith