September is a time of change as mammals start to make plans for winter.
Squirrels start to collect nuts to make stores for winter, birds start to arrive from Scandinavian countries and the final swallows are leaving our shores.
Download the picture of a barn owl and chicks to use as a monthly desktop calendar (click on the orange link and then right click on the picture and select 'set as background')
Wildlife to look out for
© NTPL / Colin Varndell
Hedgerows fill with berries at this time of year (rosehips, elder, blackberries) and autumn gentian can be found flowering late in grassland, a pinkie purple herb species. Bank and field voles and other animals are feeding up before hibernation, bats forage on moths and ivy provides a late nectar source for insects. Look out at your local Trust property to see signs of movement and change.
Birds
© NTPL / Ross Hoddinott
Migrating birds, such as swallows, can be seen all over the UK, as well as waders, birds of prey and bitterns. Autumn and winter migrant field fares and redwings, as well as mistle and song thrushes feast on fallen fruit.
Insects
© NTPL / Niall Benvie
A good time to see Red Admirals, clouds of hoverflies; bumblebees, Colletes bee, Mason bee and Mining bees. Insects are feasting on fallen fruit, spiders hunt and build webs.
East of England: Dunwich Heath (rich colonies)
Devon and Cornwall: Branscombe
South East: Runnymede
Northern Ireland: White Park Bay
Wales: Llyn Peninsula coast and Sandscale Haws
Northern Ireland: Murlough Nature Reserve
Dragonflies can still be found around ponds, rivers and streams.
Wessex: The scarce blue-tailed damselfly (Corfe Castle), Small red damselfly (Studland)
North West: Wasdale (uncommon ones)
Wales: North Pembrokeshire heath & commons
East of England: Norfolk Hawker dragonfly breed
Trees
© NTPL / Stephen Robson
Tree leaves are starting to turn into the bright colours of autumn. In September apples in orchards start ripening and fall off the tree when ready for harvest. Late September is the best time to go to orchards. Waxcaps, giant puffballs, field mushrooms and bracket fungus emerge on the orchard floor.
Discover wildlife hidden in our orchards
Devon and Cornwall: Cotehele, Parke Estate, Plym Valley properties, Plym Bridge woods, Trelissick
East of England:Blickling Hall
North West: Speke Hall
Northern Ireland: Strangford Lough
Thames & Solent: Buscot and Coleshill
Wales: Craflwyn
Wessex: Bath Skyline, Studland, Winkworth Arboretum
West Midlands: Brockhampton Estate, Croome Park
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