November Nature Diary
Now November has arrived many of the leaves have already fallen with the exception of the beech, larch and the oak. The oak in November is at its best as far as autumn colours are concerned. Of course the grey squirrels and jays enjoy the acorns. The photo shows grey squirrels collecting acorns which they bury as a food store and then often forget where they have hidden them!! Larch is actually a conifer but it is the only one to lose its entire needle like leaves in autumn.
The birds and small animals are enjoying eating the many types of berries on the trees and bushes such as rose hips and hawthorn berries.
There are still plenty of fungi on the floor of woodlands, grass, gardens and on rotting wood. So take a book out and take a look but remember don’t pick any of them unless you are with an expert who knows what mushrooms or toadstools can be eaten.
I have mentioned birds looking for food but this is the time to really start looking after them. Put out nuts, seeds and grease balls to help them through the cold weather. This is also the time to clean out your nest boxes and put some hay or wool at the bottom as birds especially the smaller ones will often roost in there on cold nights.
You may notice huge flocks of starlings flying around as they find a place to roost for the night. This is one of nature’s amazing sights and is well worth watching.
Well now our summer bird visitors have gone to find some nice warm weather , we are seeing our winter bird visitors that come to Britain because our weather is warmer. You may start to see geese and many wading birds. If you go to a lake or a wetland centre you may see Whooper and Berwick swans returning from the colder Arctic as our winters are much milder. The photo shows Whooper swans.
Listen out for robins, wrens and song thrushes that may sing on warmer days.
Most mammals do not hibernate but become less active on colder days and nights. They will still look for food even on the coldest of days as particularly the smaller animals need to eat every day to stay alive.
IMPORTANT: Hedgehogs will hibernate under leaves and piles of wood so check before
you light your bonfire on 5th November.
Coming Soon!
A special feature on hibernation.
A special feature on migration
A recipe for bird cake to give the birds in your garden a special treat this winter.
So keep looking at our website!
Now November has arrived many of the leaves have already fallen with the exception of the beech, larch and the oak. The oak in November is at its best as far as autumn colours are concerned. Of course the grey squirrels and jays enjoy the acorns. The photo shows grey squirrels collecting acorns which they bury as a food store and then often forget where they have hidden them!! Larch is actually a conifer but it is the only one to lose its entire needle like leaves in autumn.
The birds and small animals are enjoying eating the many types of berries on the trees and bushes such as rose hips and hawthorn berries.
There are still plenty of fungi on the floor of woodlands, grass, gardens and on rotting wood. So take a book out and take a look but remember don’t pick any of them unless you are with an expert who knows what mushrooms or toadstools can be eaten.
I have mentioned birds looking for food but this is the time to really start looking after them. Put out nuts, seeds and grease balls to help them through the cold weather. This is also the time to clean out your nest boxes and put some hay or wool at the bottom as birds especially the smaller ones will often roost in there on cold nights.
You may notice huge flocks of starlings flying around as they find a place to roost for the night. This is one of nature’s amazing sights and is well worth watching.
Well now our summer bird visitors have gone to find some nice warm weather , we are seeing our winter bird visitors that come to Britain because our weather is warmer. You may start to see geese and many wading birds. If you go to a lake or a wetland centre you may see Whooper and Berwick swans returning from the colder Arctic as our winters are much milder. The photo shows Whooper swans.
Listen out for robins, wrens and song thrushes that may sing on warmer days.
Most mammals do not hibernate but become less active on colder days and nights. They will still look for food even on the coldest of days as particularly the smaller animals need to eat every day to stay alive.
IMPORTANT: Hedgehogs will hibernate under leaves and piles of wood so check before
you light your bonfire on 5th November.
Coming Soon!
A special feature on hibernation.
A special feature on migration
A recipe for bird cake to give the birds in your garden a special treat this winter.
So keep looking at our website!
RSS Feed