Peregrine Falcon at Chat Moss Credit Kevin Bradshaw
Nut hatch at Mere Sands Wood Credit Swaynephotography
A tit-sized bird, the nuthatch has a short tail, large head and a woodpecker-like bill. We can't get enough of the colours in this photograph.
Being the only UK bird that can scuttle headfirst down a tree, gripping with its powerful toes, we love that swaynephotography caught this one in action!
Blackbird on a branch at Mere Sands Wood Credit swaynephotography
The humble blackbird is still a star in it's own right with it's beautiful song. At the moment, our residents are being joined by their migratory neighbours from Scandinavia and the Baltics for the winter.
Blackbirds are especially fond of feeding on lawns and can be seen with their heads cocked to one side, listening for earthworms. They also love insects and berries, so if you see some flitting about your outdoor space this month, help them out by providing some seeds to see them through the cold months.
Thanks to Swaynephotography for this beautiful photo.
White saddle fungus at Mere Sands Wood Credit Mark Lazenby
Whilst October is usually the month of mushrooms, Mark Lazenby saw this white saddle mushroom standing proud at Mere Sands Wood this month. It's scientific name is Hellvela crispa, and it is also known as an elfin saddle- presumably because it looks like the perfect throne for a woodland elf.
Distinguished by it's irregular shape, white cap and fuzzy underside, Mark called this photo the 'Angel of Mere Sands Wood'.
This fungi is poisonous, so as always when identifying mushrooms, be careful to wash your hands and never ingest wild mushrooms unless you have been advised by an expert that it is safe to do so.
Grey heron at Brockholes Credit Steve Brayne
Steve Brayne captured some stunning images of a grey heron stood statue still at our Brockholes nature reserve. No doubt waiting patiently for it's dinner, herons
Herons nest in colonies called 'Heronries', often in the top of trees. Here, they make their large, ungainly nests out of twigs and lay 3-4 eggs. The young will fledge from the nest after about one and half months.
Red admiral butterfly at Heysham Credit Janet Packham
Janet Packham shared her sighting of a vibrant red admiral butterfly catching the sun's rays in a tree this month.
Most red admirals are migrants to the UK from North Africa and continental Europe, arriving in spring and laying eggs that hatch from July onwards. But some adults manage to survive the winter by hibernating here. Let's hope this winged beauty is one of them.
Peregrine Falcon at Chat Moss nature reserve Credit Kevin Bradshaw
An exciting spot by Kevin Bradshaw of a Peregrine Falcon on Chat Moss! The peregrine is our biggest falcon; it is dark slate-grey above and white below, with black bars across its chest and belly. It has a white throat and cheeks, and a strong, black moustache and mask. It is also the fastest bird in the world, speeding up to over 200mph when it dives for prey. This breath taking dive from a great height is called 'stooping', and they usually catch their prey in mid-air. Thanks to Kevin for sharing this with us.
Short eared owl sat on a fence post at Lunt Meadows by Simon Williams
Fondly known as a 'shortie', short-eared owls like to go about their business in the daytime and are more easily sighted in the winter when the trees are bare and they are joined by their migrant cousins. Owls are a common sight at Lunt Meadows, and this one seems to be surveying it's territory on one of our fence posts. Thanks to Simon Williams for taking and sharing such a great photograph.
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