Nature notes

What to look for in September

Monthly highlights to look for by TOM BAILEY – Trail’s four-season photographer

PEREGRINE

The fastest creature on the planet. This month sees family groups on the wing, with this year’s young constantly nagging their parents for food. More impressively, they will be taught by their parents to hunt. If you witness this, it’s an activity you will not forget. The adult catches a bird then releases it for one of its young to practise on; all in mid-air. A family unit can contain four, five or six birds and the pleading call of the young makes them easier to spot than they might otherwise be.

BRACKEN

This large, single-stemmed coarse fern is about to make its dramatic turn from green to brown. Laden with carcinogenic (if eaten) spores, visible on the underside of its leaves, this widespread plant is at the mercy of the night sky. One clear and cold night may be enough to give the landscape its first taste of autumn, with yellows, reds and browns high up on the hills signalling its arrival.

RED SQUIRREL

Smaller than our more numerous, non-native grey squirrel, we all know this cutie from nature documentaries. September is a great time to see them as they’ll be collecting, hoarding and eating as much food as possible to get them through winter. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t hibernate. They live off fat reserves and may be seen out foraging even in the snow, as they can only go for a couple of days without eating. Pine, spruce and larch woods offer the best chances of seeing them, just after dawn.