A season of colour and new visitors

Autumn is a time to preserve for winter and it's the same for wildlife says

- Helen Moffat

Autumn colours make October a beautiful month as our green landscape tries on a host of startling red, ambers, golds and browns before toning down completely for the winter. The abundance of food around - in fields and hedgerows, and probably on your plot - make this a busy month for harvesting, for humans and wildlife alike.

It’s a time when everyone will be hard at work making preparations for the winter and gathering the late-season fruit and berries to preserve and use over the colder months. It’s much the same for our birds.

Whilst those who prefer their winters warmer have mostly now left for their more southerly seasonal grounds, they've been replaced by many other species from the north, seeking a more temperate climate than their breeding lands can promise. They - like us - are also keen to make the most of the abundance of autumn!

Keep an eye out for some migratory visitors on your plot whilst you go about your work but also some resident birds who you tend to only see at this time of the year.

COLOURFUL JAYS

Jays are often described as secretive and shy birds. They stick to woodlands and leafy cover for most of the year but there's something around at this time of year which is pretty much guaranteed to bring them out - acorns!

If you have any oak trees on your plot or in the surrounding area, watch out for a flash of pink and their distinctive white rumps as they either swoop down to investigate the ground below trees.