November
Tawny Owls
Tawny owls nest early in the year so begin to establish territories in November. At dusk the distinctive 'hooo-hooo' sound can be heard which is used by male tawny owls to defend their territory and attract a mate. The females reply with a hoarser hoot. However, they don't bother hooting when it is raining because the background noise of falling rain greatly reduces the audible range of an owl's hoot.
Hedgehogs
As the temperature drops and daylight shortens hedgehogs start to prepare for hibernation. During hibernation heartbeat decreases from 190 beats per minute (bpm) to 20 bpm and body temperature drops from 35°C to 10°C. This helps to conserve the hedgehogs' energy during the coldest period of the year. If you want to help hedgehogs, put out a dish of cat or dog food (not bread and milk as this upsets their digestive systems). Also building a pile of wood and leaves gives a great place for hedgehogs to spend the winter in.
Rowan
Rowan provides a rich food source during autumn and early winter. Rowan berries are a favourite with birds such as chaffinch, robin and siskin. Migrating birds such as redwings and fieldfares coincide their arrival from Scandinavia to the UK with the availability of rowan berries. As these birds travel on they disperse seeds, starting the next generations of rowan. Just before rowan leaves are shed in autumn they turn bright orange-red.
Ladybirds
In order to survive the harsh weather during winter many insects find a sheltered place and hibernate until spring. Some of their favourite places for hibernation include thick grass, inside dead stems of plants and under tree bark. They sometimes hibernate indoors in the corners of window frames. Most species of ladybird hibernate clustered together in large numbers (can be up to 1000 individuals!) to provide extra warmth.
Cormorants
Keep an eye out for cormorants during November. The cormorant is a large water bird. It is black with a bluish green sheen and has a long neck. Water can penetrate their feathers which allows them to dive as deep as 100 feet under water to catch fish. Cormorants dry off by standing in an upright position with wings out and neck extended. Recent studies have shown this characteristic pose also helps cormorants to digest fish.
Puffball Fungus
Look out for puffball fungus during the month of November. Puffballs look like stemless brownish sacs. Initially they have a firm and rubbery texture. Once the spores, which are contained inside the sac, are mature the outer layer breaks down to a papery, thin-walled layer. Then all it takes is a drop of rain to strike the surface and dust-like masses of spores are released. The spores will form the next generation of puffball fungus.
