This week it has been noticeably cooler on the reserve with the signs of winter starting to show. Leaves are crunching under foot and you can’t help notice that you need to put a couple of extra layers on in order to keep warm! But with the trees almost bare, the amount of wildlife you can see now is enough to warm anyone up on a cold winter’s day…
Starlings Late one night just before the darkness fell on the reserve me and Becky, one of our warden interns had a little treat – a mini starling murmuration! With over 100 birds all swooping together the sound was amazing as they flew over our heads, possibly to their communal roosting site. At this time of year their legs are pink and their bill is black, whereas in summer this changes to iridescent colours, with their feathers glistening in the sun. Their talent is being able to mimic other birds which also gives them fame, so much so they are even mentioned by William Shakespeare!
Starling by Andy Hay (RSPB Images)
Turkey Tail There’s still an array of fungus to be found on the reserve, just get looking under those decaying logs and you’ll be in for a surprise! Like most other types of fungi, Turkey Tail is the name for the part we can actually see. Most of the fungus is hidden away from view. This particular fungus helps to break down old logs and tree trunks so that their nutrients can be used again, isn’t nature clever?
Turkey Tail by Carl Capewell
Woodcock Whilst out and about this week these mainly nocturnal birds have been spotted a couple of times. Both Becky and Steve have managed to get a glimpse of this bird during the week, which is quite a rare sight! However, during the winter months woodcocks often come down to the lowlands in order to feed, so if you make a visit you might be lucky too. These bulky birds will be feeding on the large amounts of worms; beetles and small snails on the woodland floor.
Common Smoothcap It’s often easy to overlook the little things but there are plenty of different types of mosses here at Coombes. Did you know... that each Common Smoothcap produces over 100,000 spores? The spores are released from “pepper pot” like capsules if they are hit by a single raindrop or carried by the wind.
Colourful woodland The trees are still looking amazing and colourful to the eye – so much so it almost looks like it needs to belong in a picture frame! Seas of colour meet you wherever you walk and cheer you up on a gloomy winter’s day. Keep an eye out for the larch trees which are looking incredible at the moment.
Valley View by Carl Capewell
With shorter days there’s even less time to get out and enjoy the outdoors, but fear not you don’t need to spend hours. Sometimes it’s just a matter of standing still for a couple of minutes and keeping an eye out for what snuffles, chirps and grows…