Wildlife watch

Jenny Ackland uncovers some amazing natural wonders you can spot as summer comes to a close.

- Jenny Ackland

September is a busy month for birds. While some are getting ready to fly off to warmer places, others are arriving for a winter holiday. One of the new arrivals is the greylag goose. After spending summer in Iceland, these large, noisy birds head south to join our resident greylags for a milder winter. You are most likely to spot them around Scotland's coasts, where they feed and rest.

Elsewhere in nature, rosehips are ripening. These are the bright red fruits of the rose plant. They are a favourite with birds like jays and a sign that autumn is on its way.

Another early autumn wonder is the giant puffball – a round, white fungus that can grow as big as a football and pops up in fields and woodlands.

If you look closely at leaves and twigs, you might spot tiny lumps and bumps called galls. These are made when small insects such as gall wasps or mites lay eggs inside a plant.