Creatures of autumn

Since I started spending a lot of time in Comar Wood I have realised that the species of birds that are most evident or noticeable varies with the time of year. In some cases this is because they only spend part of their year here and in other cases because they are more active or noisy at certain times of year.

Back in early summer pied wagtails were always to be seen near our caravan (I think they were nesting in the wood stack), but it has now been many weeks since I saw one. Chaffinches were also making frequent appearances but I now see them much less. We even had a couple of common sandpipers turn up this spring and the last. I guess they were attracted to the gravelly shoals of the River Glass, which is just across the road, but they spent a lot of time round about the caravan. I’m not sure where they nested but one day I came across one sheltering a little chick. Now these birds are long gone.

At this time of year it is the robin that takes centre stage. Robins are very common here and can be seen all year round. However, autumn is a time when they are particularly noticeable. They dart out from shelter with a quick, low flight to look for food on the ground or to have a territorial skirmish with another robin. They spend a lot of time perching on various high points, singing to mark their territory. Robins are one of the few birds to sing in autumn and their high-pitched song, like a shimmering silver stream, provides the soundtrack to the shortening days of September.

Another bird that has become particularly noticeable in recent weeks is the jay. I rarely see or hear these birds most of the year, but in autumn their harsh calls can be heard every day and I often spot jays flying between the trees. Jays like to feed on acorns and since it is now acorn season the jays are out in force. Jays’ taste for acorns, and their habit of burying them as food supplies for later, is of great benefit to the oak trees. Jays are one of the most important species for spreading acorns and therefore assisting in the regeneration of oaks. Since I would love to have more oak trees in Comar Wood I am always happy to hear the jays! I have noticed a lot of oak seedlings dotted about the woodland this summer so it seems the jays are having an effect.

A certain mammal has also recently started making an appearance in the woodland: this is of course the red squirrel. Similarly to the jays, this is a creature that most of the time I hardly ever see. However, I have seen a red squirrel every day or two this last week. I assume they are becoming more active as they take advantage of an abundance of food before winter. I have seen hazel nuts deposited in places in the wood, which I am guessing is down to the squirrels. These animals are responsible for distributing and burying nuts/seeds from a variety of different trees, including hazel, therefore allowing these trees to spread and regenerate. Hazel seedlings have been popping up in various places in the wood. This makes me happy because hazel is one of my favourite trees. It is good to know that we have animals here that can help them spread their seeds and it is always special watching a red squirrel going about its business.

And since I failed to get a photo of a red squirrel or a jay, here is one of a red admiral butterfly, another autumn creature that I have seen frequently on recent sunny days, feeding on ragwort.

Post script

As I write this I can see and hear overhead V-shaped flocks of geese flying southwards across a pale blue sky, with clouds reflecting the golden light of the lowering evening sun. Feels like autumn.