Author: raysurridge

  • Jelly Ear

    Jelly Ear

    Jelly Ear fungus can be spotted in the autumn and right through winter. It is usually found on dead or dying Elder wood. Photo: Josh Milburn at Mushroom Observer, CC […]

  • Evening-primrose

    Evening-primrose

    Evening-primrose can be spotted into the autumn in milder weather. Photo: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  • Dunnock

    Dunnock

    The Dunnock is an unassuming small brown bird, easily confused with but unrelated to the Sparrow. Watch out for it sidling about in the undergrowth. Photo: © Natural England/Allan Drewitt

  • Buzzard

    Buzzard

    The Buzzard is the most common bird of prey in the UK.Photo: © Richard Birchett

  • Red Berries Abound

    Red Berries Abound

    It seems as if there is a peripheral red haze at the edge of my vision at the moment – and though some may say that I have anger management […]

  • Black-headed Gull

    Black-headed Gull

    Black-headed Gulls form large flocks in the autumn and winter months. Photo: Amanda Scott

  • Black Medick

    Black Medick

    The small flowers of Black Medick are delicately pretty. In the autumn, look out for the distinctive black seedpods that give Black Medick, a cousin to the clovers, its name. […]

  • Bristly Oxtongue

    Bristly Oxtongue

    It may not be the prettiest of plants, but Bristly Oxtongue, which flowers from June into the autumn, has some impressive spikes on its leaves. Photo: Stemonitis, CC BY-SA 3.0, […]

  • Red-backed Shrike

    Red-backed Shrike

    Now pretty much extinct as a breeding species in the UK, you might spot a Red-backed Shrike on The Lizard during its autumn migration back to Africa. Photo: Ron Knight

  • Robin

    Robin

    While some birds depart The Lizard for warmer climates in the autumn, others stay with us, including the Robin, cheering us up with its song all through the autumn and […]

  • Spangle gall

    Spangle gall

    Spangle Galls, which are created by a parasitic wasp, are one of the many kinds of galls found on oak trees. These were spotted at Croft Noweth on Goonhilly. Photo: […]

  • Snipe

    Snipe

    It may be a relatively common wader, but the shy Snipe can be hard to spot. Watch out for it round well-vegetated pool edges on The Lizard, but you need […]

  • Small is beautiful – return of the elusive Pygmy rush

    Small is beautiful – return of the elusive Pygmy rush

    Once lost it can take a long time for species to come back to a site. It also takes a lot of many people’s efforts and their time to ensure […]

  • Jackdaw

    Jackdaw

    A flock of Jackdaws used to be called a ‘clattering’ – for obvious reasons! Photo: © Natural England/Allan Drewitt

  • Greenshank

    Greenshank

    Croft Pascoe Pool on Goonhilly Downs is a great place for spotting migratory and overwintering waders in the autumn, including Greenshanks. Photo: Ilya Maclean

  • Grey Wagtail

    Grey Wagtail

    Grey Wagtails are found near upland streams in the summer, but move to lowland habitats in the winter. Photo: © Natural England/Allan Drewitt