Marvelous mushrooms

As the weather gets wetter, fungi thrives! With the wet start to September we’ve seen lots of mushrooms nestled at the foot of trees or dappled across dead wood.

Puffballs are a common species to spot in the autumn. One of the largest funguses in the world, the giant puffball can contain over seven trillion spores in a single fruitbody alone! It can also grow up to 80cm across.

Fly agaric are another iconic autumn wonder, with their classic ‘toadstool’ appearance. They’re usually found in woodlands and parks with scattered trees, typically growing beneath birch trees or pines and spruces. Don’t be fooled by their charming appearance – they’re poisonous and should not be eaten.

Flocks of thrushes

In the autumn you’ll find migratory thrushes like fieldfare and redwing making their way over from Scandinavia, Russia and northern Europe to feast on the fruits and berries to be found in our bushes and trees. You can identify fieldfare by their speckled orangey bibs and bluey grey head and tails. 

Handsome hedgehogs

In the autumn, hedgehogs will be feeding up and getting their nest in order, ready to start hibernating in October/November. As we get closer to Halloween and Bonfire Night, it’s a good time to be mindful of our prickly pals and check any bonfires before they’re lit, in case a hedgehog has made it their home!

How to help hedgehogs in autumn

Territorial tawny owls 

As we move more into October and November, tawny owl youngsters will be out in search of their own territories. Listen out for the classic “too-wit too-woo” duet between males and females, as they find their feet before mating season begins. 

Rutting red deer

Autumn is the mating season for our largest land mammal, the red deer. After spending the summer in single-sex herds, the rut begins as dominant males start rounding up their hareem of females. Grab your camera and binoculars and head over to Ashton Court deer park to watch the battle commence! 

Incredible insects

You’d be easily mistaken for thinking that all bugs disappear as soon as the weather starts to turn colder, but there are still some to be found in the autumn months. Shieldbugs, for example, overwinter as adults and change from green into a purple brown to blend into the leaves and bark better. In spring they change back into their vibrant green, ready to mate!

Beautiful bats

By September, the year’s juvenile bats have been weaned and are out flying, catching as many insects as possible before their winter hibernation. Our nature reserves team have been hard at work making our Goblin Combe nature reserve a better home for bat species such as lesser and greater horseshoe, plus barbastelle bats! 

Find out more about our Wilder Woodlands project

Jaunty jays

With a fabulous pop of blue on their wings, you’re more likely to spot this colourful corvid in September and October. This is when they’re busy creating a cache of acorns, nuts and seeds, ready for the winter. Jays bury their stash underground, meaning they also help create new oak trees when acorns get left behind! 

We hope this has inspired you to get out and about this autumn, looking for the stunning spectacles that nature has to offer. We love seeing what you spot, so tag us on social media @avonwt or send your photos to communications@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk