Look Out For ... in November to January
Safety First on Bonfire Night
If you're having a bonfire, check that there are no hibernating hedgehogs, newts, frogs or toads inside and only move material to the bonfire at the last minute.
Trees
All trees will be changing colour now making a fantastic display. Maple trees especially will be turning a rich autumnal red colour. Other plants to see include Spurge Laurel, Mezereon, Annual Meadow Grass, Winter Heliotrope and Green Hellebore.
Migrating Birds
Winter Geese, such as Pinkfoot and Greylag, are quite common and the only remaining flock of Bean Geese to winter in Scotland head for the Slamannan Plateau.
Fieldfares, Redwings and Starlings can be seen around the Firth of Forth and many lochs.
Common Crossbills nest early in Britain to coincide with the opening of pine cones.
While the trees are bare, look out for Kingfishers alongside rivers and estuaries and Woodcocks in wet woodland. Others to spot are waders, Herons, and birds of prey such as Kestrels and Buzzards.
Birds will be searching the leaf litter for hibernating insects to eat but, if you put out food in your garden, you could see Blackbirds, Thrushes, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits, Sparrows, Starlings and Robins up close. Erect a bird house or nest box to encourage Tits to nest.
Animals
Stoats will be easier to see in their white ermine coats, if it doesn't snow!
Foxes will be scavenging for food during the day, and are very likely to be seen in pairs.
Red Squirrels will be hunting for food and running about in the treetops looking for a mate, so it's a great time to see them. Report any sightings to the Central Scotland Forest Trust or your local Biological Recording Centre. Why not provide a feeding box, but watch out for Grey Squirrels as the box could attract them!
Key dates & events:-
26 Nov - 7 Dec = National Tree Week. Visit http://www.treecouncil.org.uk for more information.
1 - 3 Dec = Tree Dressing Days. Tree dressing is based on many old customs from all over the world. These days encourage the celebration of trees where people live - the city, country, street, village green - and reminds us of our responsibility to look after them because of their enormous cultural and environmental importance. Visit www.commonground.org.uk/trees/t-dress.html for more on these customs.
December = Festival of Winter Walks - the Ramblers' Association invite everyone to join them on the many walks they organise across Scotland.
Visit http://www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks/
