The last rustle of  Autumn

Nature never takes a break — even as the temperatures fall and the days grow shorter! While the world around us seems to be slowing down, many species are just hitting their stride in November. Some are even returning to the UK, so keep your eyes on the skies and the water for whooper swans who have begun their annual winter migration. Whooper swans have a yellow bill with a black tip and lack the black eye ridge of our more recognisable resident mute swans (pictured).  It’s a white wonderland when whooper swans flock together, and quite the experience to behold, so one to look out for this season.

Images above: Mute Swans and friends at Central Park, Ivy, Ivy

Here are a few more fascinating species to keep an eye out for this month.

A common species in many gardens and green spaces is the climbing plant, ivy. Ivy is known for its evergreen foliage and ability to climb to great heights using walls, trees, and other structures. Ivy can be categorised into mature and juvenile, and the mature plants can provide a rich, dense food for birds and insects. During the autumn months, ivy produces blue or black berries which are an avian superfood! The fact they do not rot as quickly as other berries and fruits means they are an essential source of goodness for our feathered friends in early winter.

Despite the cold, ivy flowers in the autumn months which provide food and nutrition for late pollinators and they also provide the perfect foraging space for bats and birds who are looking to bulk up their winter homes. Leaving ivy to grow and mature in your garden could be helping all sorts of wildlife, so it’s something to consider the next time you prune and trim your garden plants.

From climbing plants to towering trees, another November spot is the ash tree, scientifically known as Fraxinus excelsior. Ash trees can grow up to 35 metres in height and in early autumn their leaves fall to the ground, often whilst still green. What is prominent in November is their fruits which are flattened into copper-coloured wings. These often form bunches called keys, and when they fall to the ground, they become great foraging material for hibernating mammals.

Images above: Snails

Bringing our attention back down to the ground, as the weather turns wetter it’s well-known that a certain gastropod will be sliding across our path. The brown-lipped snail likes a habitat with plenty of moisture, so wetter autumn months suit them as they can live and thrive amongst damp soil. Although you might assume this species all have the same striped brown and yellow spiralled shell pattern, they vary greatly with some having no stripes and entirely yellow shells! Around this time of year however, these small creatures can also use their snail slime to seal their shell and estivate. Estivating means shutting down until spring which is like hibernation.

A true symbol of the night, and an animal that will be making the most of the shorter days, is the red fox. Fox families will be going through a big change in late autumn, as their fox cubs will be readying to branch out on their own and leave the nest. Often unsure and learning how life outside the den can be, these young foxes may venture on to roads and paths so it’s best to slow down and let them find their way to safety. They are sometimes misunderstood but these majestic and beautiful creatures are part of our local ecosystem.

We are still keen to see any photos you snap of local wildlife, especially if you can snap any migrating whooper swans! so please do send anything to our social media inboxes or submit your sighting here.

Article by: Issy Lyons (Marketing Officer, Events and Corporate)