What to Look Out For in November

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RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

What to Look Out For in November

Post by RachelMC »

What to Look Out For in November:

At the start of November, bonfires will be built and the nights will now begin to feel cold. Bonfires can be attractive refuges for hibernating Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), and therefore should always be checked before they are lit, especially if you have used fallen leaves.

This month sees the last of the leaves on the deciduous trees falling to the ground. The only exception may be the Beech (Fagus sylvatica), which may hang on to its coppery hues. The oak now puts on its best Autumn show of colour, having only made a tentative start in October. The acorns rain down this month, often relying on Jays (Garrulus glandarius) and Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) to disperse them. There are two main types of British oak: the Sessile (Quercus petraea) and the Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur). In the former, the acorns are borne in cups, with almost no stalk attaching them to the stem. In the latter, however, the acorn cups are attached with shared long stalks.

At this time of year the Black Bryony (Tamus communis) stems thread through the hedgerows, supporting their clusters of fat, poisonous red berries.

The last of the summer bird migrants leave but now the trees are bare it is easier to spot the residents and winter migrants. Amongst the most likely birds to be seen in the gardens, woodlands and fields are flocks of roaming tits and finches such as Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla). These are often joined by the occasional Tree Creeper (Certhia familiaris) and Nuthatch (Sitta europaea). With every year that passes there are more reports of Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) and even Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita) over wintering; you may be lucky to see them amongst these flocks.
With the trees bare it it now much easier to see the extent of rookeries, that is the groups of nests high in the trees. Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) will often be seen around the rookery even now.
At this time of year, and through to the beginning of spring, winter thrushes (Redwings (Turdus iliacus) and Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris)) can also be abundant but are easily disturbed if you approach. They start to arrive about now and feast on Hawthorn berries particularly.
This month is the start of one of winter's highlights - namely the amassing of huge flocks, called murmurations, of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), which is an amazing spectacle to watch. Other birds such as Pied Wagtails (Motacilla alba) also show this behaviour.

This is the last month when the Autumn fungal-fest can be seen. In the woodlands the ground is covered in fallen leaves but look out for the widespread Sulphur-tuft fungus (Hypholoma fasciculare) growing on rotting wood.

At this time bats enter a state of torpor in their hibernacula. This is not a full hibernation as bats will emerge on warm days, but is a state of reduced metabolism and body temperature. In this state less energy is required. Only dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) and Hedgehogs hibernate. Some other mammals reduce winter activity, such as the Badger (Meles meles), but will have fattened themselves up for the lean months ahead.

Notes compiled by: Rachel with acknowledgement to When to Watch Wildlife
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