Life Nature Magazine

ON YOUR DOORSTEP FROM DUSK UNTIL DAWN AUTUMN ISSUE
Wildlife Watch
October:
Red Deer
October is the peak of the red deer
Cervus elaphus rut. Usually segregated,
congregating into large single sex herds
in open country, in the breeding season
the stags return to the home rage of the
hind deer creating large mixed groups.
Males compete to win access to a group
of females and by protecting their
‘harem’, the dominant male will receive
exclusive rights to mate with them.
November:
Thrushes
By November visiting
thrushes can be seen in large
along hedgerows. Common
migrants include redwing
turdus iliacus
turdus pilaris, most of the ones
we see in Cornwall would
have crossed the north sea,
on passage from Scandinavia.
They overwinter in the UK,
departing in early spring.
Redwings are easily spotted
on the Tremough Campus, so
keep your eyes peeled.
Seals
By November grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) colonies are bustling with their
Phoca vitulina,
pups much earlier in June-July. Grey seal pups moult their thick, white coat
after three weeks, at this point their mothers will end their starvation period,
leaving the pups to fend for themselves. Godrevy head in Hayle is a good
place for seeing the new families interact.
Image: red deer: Beth Arkwright, red wing, Hannah Walker;
merveille du jour, Guy Freeman; seal pup, Liselle Fae Jackson;
waxwing, Felix Smith; fungi, Charlotte Sams; moss, Claire Young.
Moths
moths, the Merveille du
Jour Dichonia aprilina can
be seen on the wing from
late September to October.
Although scarce, it is
widespread, often occurring
in woodland, hedgerows
and gardens around the
UK, in particular those
with high numbers of oaks
- their larval food plant. It
is one of our most beautiful
moths, especially when
newly emerged.
Fungi
October is the month fungal
diversity peaks, with the majority
of the seasonal mushrooms
fruiting. This is a great time
to get into wild foraging as
mushrooms emerge. But forage
with caution; many poisonous
species also thrive in October.
These include the unmistakeable
Amanita muscaria
(pictured), as well as species
which are confusingly similar to
edible specimens; false chanterelle
Hygrophoropis aurantiaca can
cause some people serious harm
and looks almost identical to
other edible chanterelles.
December:
Moss
In December when the
temperatures drop really
low, water everywhere
can freeze, causing quite
a spectacle in some
places. Moss has a high
water content, and lives
in damp spots. The soft
moss beds we are used
to are transformed in
to crunchy, icicle laden,
glistening green walls.
Waxwings
During harsh winters, large
Bombycilla garrulous are forced
south, leaving northern and
central Europe where they
overwinter and visit the UK.
They often make it as far south
as Cornwall, and can be seen
frequenting gardens and car
parks in Falmouth, foraging on
hawthorn Crategus monogyna
and rowan Sorbus aucuparia
berries.
Written by Fraser Bell, MSc
Applied Ecology Alumnus.