October 2009

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Autumn can be an exciting time for the naturalist as it brings a host of seasonal changes and migratory bird movements. In October we can expect the arrival of redwings and fieldfares from northern Europe and the Baltic. These members of the thrush family will spend the winter with us and it is good to see such a good crop of berries especially hawthorn and holly which redwings, in particular, find a ready source of food. Redwings are nocturnal migrants and sometimes away from traffic noise at night you may hear their thin "seep" contact calls from the overhead darkness as they head inland after their North Sea crossing.

Other October arrivals to our coastal estuaries and fields are dark-bellied brent geese from their breeding areas on the Russian tundras. Flocks numbered in thousands will be back in north Essex by the end of October with key spots in the estuaries of Rivers Stour, Colne and Blackwater and in the Hamford Water. My favourite sites for seeing these wintering geese and also duck such as wigeon, are East Mersea (Cudmore Grove Country Park) and Essex Wildlife Trust's Tollesbury wick reserve.

Look out, as well, for some early short-eared owls which, like the brent geese, have flown in from mainland Europe. They hunt by day for voles in coastal grassland and marshes and along river and sea walls. If you are lucky you may come across a newly-arrived woodcock as these beautifully-plumaged wading birds also cross the North Sea in October.

Another autumn immigrant from mainland Europe is the woodcock.

Unfortunately the long drought of late summer and into the autumn will seriously affect the seasonal flushes of fungi in the woods and fields son fungi hunters will be hoping for some steady rains to bring much needed relief to the countryside. Colchester Natural History Society's expert Ian Rose will be leading fungus forays hoping the situation will change. He will lead the CNHS annual foray on Sunday, October 18, which this year is to Breckland woods in Suffolk and Norfolk, at Santon Downham and the King's Forest. Only a few seats are left on the coach for this popular event but it may be worth giving a call to outings organiser Carole Rogers on Colchester 853942.

Fine days in October will find some butterflies still on the wing and on October 1st I saw some late second—brood common blue and brown argus; a peacock and speckled woods at the Woodland Trust's Fordham Hall Estate. I also saw a clouded yellow, one of a number of these colourful immigrants seen in Essex and Suffolk in late September and early October. There was a sizeable immigration of clouded yellows from the Continent in mid September and at some places along the south coast several hundred were counted. Although some females may lay eggs on lucerne and clover plants any resulting late butterflies are unlikely to survive our winter even if it is, as often, mainly mild.

Bird news latest

Local birders flocked to Abberton Reservoir in the last two weeks of September to add a white-rumped sandpiper to their life tick list! This is a North American wader which occasionally strays to Britain. Many got sightings off the Layer Bretton Causeway. The Reservoir is very low at the moment due to a prolonged drought period and there is a large amount of mud which attracts many wader species.

White-rumped sandpiper. Rare visitor from North America which was seen at Abberton Reservoir in September.

CNHS members on their coach trip to Santon Down, Suffolk Breckland on October 18, had marvellous views of a flock of crossbills as the birds came down to drink at the edge of the river. There were adult (red) and immature (orange) males plus many adult and young females in varying plumage. There has also been a flock of crossbills in the larch plantation at Marks Hall Estate, Coggeshall.

Harlequin ladybirds invade houses

Several people in the Colchester area have reported some large scale 'invasions' of their houses by Harlequin ladybirds as these alien insects seek winter quarters. This species is now abundant and widespread and poses a threat to our native species of ladybirds.

There was a sizeable immigration of clouded yellow butterflies in late September and early October with local records from Alresford, Colchester and Fordham.

Photo: Darren Tansley

Short-eared owls are possible October arrivals from the Continent in coastal areas in October.

The prolonged drought has meant a shortage of fungi this autumn but the most sought after edible species in the woods is the cep.

Among late butterflies still on the wing in October is the speckled wood

Flocks of dark-bellied brent geese are back in the Essex estuaries from Siberia.

Redwings arrive from Scandinavia and will find an abundant berry harvest along the hedges

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