Images of Autumn

Sunday, October 11th 2015

Each season, the moth identifiers, the flower walkers and the rooters discuss which season is their favourite.  For some it is spring with all the new growth and flowers after the winter.  Others enjoy the snow of winter.  Usually we decide that the season we are in, is our favourite!

Autumn is the season where plants and animals get ready for winter.  Preparation takes many forms, Hazel trees have small catkins and the Alder branches have buds.  Blackthorn is covered in blue berries which will probably still be on the trees next spring as they are not enjoyed by many birds.

Sloe Berries

Hawthorn berries are covering the trees and soon the Blackbirds will begin feasting on them.  A little later hopefully they will be joined by Fieldfares and Redwings.

Hawthorn berries

Meadowsweet flowers late in the summer and its white frothy heads can still be seen through the Scrapes.  Many have set seed.  If you look closely, the seeds are almost twisted around each other and if gently touched they easily break and each little 'twist' is a seed, which you can just see hanging down towards the bottom of the photograph.

Meadowsweet seed head

Conditions during autumn usually favour the growth of fungi.  Fly Agaric has shown its red top in several places around the reserve.  This one was growing on the wetland, amazingly it has not been trampled by the cattle but has been nibbled by slugs.

Fly Agaric

The number of moths in the moth trap is reducing, but as long as the weather is not very cold we will continue to put the trap out.  On Wednesday this spectacular moth, the Herald, escaped from the trap but because of the heavy rain immediately landed on the side of the building where it was caught.  Unfortunately as soon as it was released on to the leaves to have its photograph taken it flew off, so the only one we had was taken in its container.  On Saturday it was found again, not sure if it is the same moth or another, but this time it co-operated.

Herald Moth

With autumn comes mist, lower temperatures, less daylight and so lengthening shadows.

Lengthening shadows

NEWS -  The first sightings of Redwings and Fieldfares at Foxglove have been recorded today.


(0) Comments:

There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:


Leave a Comment:

Please complete this field, it's required. Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?


Back to Top

Help Support Foxglove

Friends of Foxglove

The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.

More Details

Upcoming Events


Access to the Reserve: OPEN with limited access

Monday 18th March 2024 |

The reserve is now open, although again with limited access.

Visitors will be able to access the reserve with the use of key fobs provided at the pass office upon entrance to the camp, or will be provided entrance and exit through the access gate by an officer from the camp Guard Room. In this case visitors will need a mobile phone to call the Guard Room when they wish to exit the reserve.

Please be aware that due to these circumstances, entering and leaving the reserve might take a little longer than usual.



Bird Watching for Beginners

Thursday 18th April 2024 | 10am-1pm

Improve your bird spotting and identification skills with this guided bird watching session. Learn how to identicy common species, differentiate between confusion species and how to get started learning bird calls. A great opportunity to ask questions and learn alongside others.

£3 per person. Free for volunteers and Friends of Foxglove and voluteers.

Booking essential. Fill in the booking form by clicking the link below! Pay via paypal or in person on the day.



VIEW ALL EVENTS

Recent Blog Posts

Blog Archive