September is a month of firsts: the first frosty autumnal morning, the first golden leaves appearing on trees, and the first sightings of our fantastic fungi.
As the colours of our woodlands change and our wildlife starts to prepare for the colder weather, it’s a great time to get outdoors and see how nature ebbs and flows through the seasons.
Here are some of our top late summer/early autumn sightings from across our reserves this month.
Kingfisher by Andrew Clutterbuck
This gorgeous kingfisher was spotted in a perfect pose in the free-flowing Ribble beside Brockholes. I had the pleasure of seeing it for myself early in September as I took part in a Nature Connection workshop, and all of my fellow participants stopped and watched in awe as flashes of blue darted about the river.
As their name suggests, they are talented fishers and can often be seen swooping low to the water’s surface in hopes of catching a fresh fish or invertebrates.
Although they are only slightly larger than robins, they weigh almost double – they must eat their own body weight in fish every day to survive!
Earth tongue by Lydia German
This was one of my own observations and again was spotted during the Nature Connection workshop at Brockholes. I was drawn to a few unusually shaped clusters growing upwards from a mossy fallen tree. Upon closer inspection I realised these clusters were earth tongue fungi, which was a very exciting find. I’d never seen it in person before!
These popped up quite early given that the workshop was held on 1st September – usually it crops up in October, just in time for Halloween, which is quite fitting given its eerie appearance.
Earth tongue is quite sensitive to changes within its environment and can often be found growing near other similarly sensitive fungus.
Roe deer by Keith Stanley
This curious deer wasn’t phased at all by photographer Keith Stanley and carried on grazing for a couple of minutes before wandering off into the trees.
Many does will now be pregnant with their young following the breeding season in July and August, but we won’t see the little ones until spring/summer next year. The fawns are born with endearing white spots of fur that fade with age.
Roe deer can often be found grazing on herbs, grasses, shrubs and leaves, and although solitary throughout most of the year, will soon be grouping together for warmth in the colder months.
Toadlet by Keith Stanley
Tread carefully on your autumn walks and you may spot a toadlet on the path below! They are well camouflaged and are only really noticeable once you see a leaf flapping on the ground or hear rustling in the grass.
Despite their warts and ancient associations with witches, the common toad is a gardener's friend, devouring slugs and snails that would otherwise cause annoyance. Larger toads have even been seen eating slow worms and harvest mice.
Unfortunately our busy roads often block migration paths, which makes it difficult for toads to reach breeding ponds. If you’ve ever seen the rare ‘toad crossing’ road sign, it means that more than 1,000 toads are known to migrate across that area each year. You can find your nearest toad crossing sign on the Froglife website.
Scarlet waxcap by Keith Stanley
Scarlet waxcap are bright, red, wet-looking toadstools. They can grow in large numbers in the right conditions and are often easily spotted due to their vibrant colour standing out amongst the green or brown foliage.
They are usually around 5cm high and the cap is typically 4cm wide, and with age they turn orange and grow a yellow rim. They particularly like cut or grazed grass free from fertiliser or pesticides.
Orb-weaver spider by Aimee Mullin
It has certainly felt like spider season this month! In my own back garden, I witnessed a spider creating a huge web between the alleyway of mine and my neighbour’s fence – it clearly wanted access to flies and bugs from across both properties.
This stunningly marked orb-weaver spider was spotted at Mere Sands Wood. Orb-weavers are the most common builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs, and most evenings build a new one from scratch.
If you observe them towards the evening you’ll see them eat yesterday’s web, rest for an hour or two then get cracking on building a new one. It’s thought that they do this to avoid predators such as hungry birds, which is also why they tend to hide away during the daytime.
What will you spot at our reserves in October? Don’t forget to tag us on Twitter or Instagram or send us a message on Facebook for a chance to be featured in next month’s roundup!
