WILDLIFE
From flashy scarlet toadstools to electric blue birds, we celebrate the bright sparks that light up the dull days of November in the British countryside
Aerial acrobat
As autumn draws in, the ochre-red common darter, one of the year’s last dragonflies, flits over brackish waters. Jewel-bright, this delicate creature uses two sets of transparent wings to cut through the air with spectacular skill – flying backwards, upside down and sideways before turning 360 degrees on the spot. They can be found in wetlands, woodlands and garden ponds, perking up November afternoons with aerial acrobatics. british-dragonflies.org.uk
Fairytale toadstools
The red and white spotted caps of the fly agaric pop up in woodland under birch trees this month, in vivid contrast to autumn’s mellow tones. Bewitching but highly toxic, this quintessential fairytale toadstool was once used as an insecticide, broken up and soaked in milk to kill flies, hence the name fly agaric. Most famously, Alice in Wonderland had vivid hallucinations when given the fungus to eat. woodlandtrust.org.uk
Berry bright
Flashes of scarlet arils hang among the green fronds of the yew tree to herald the celebratory season ahead. The only part of this native evergreen that isn’t toxic, these fleshy, bright cup-like berries have a sweetish taste and are a valuable food source for birds and mammals as the cold begins to bite. Look for them outside ancient churches in particular. A symbol of immortality, some are thought to be more than 1,000 years old. ancienttreeforum.org.uk
Electric blue bird
Found year-round in the UK, the common kingfisher is the only one of the Alcedinidae family resident here. A fleeting spark of blue and orange glimpsed around slow-moving or still water, this territorial bird must eat 60 per cent of its body weight eachday, huntingfrombranchesorriverbanks one to two metres above the surface. Spotting fish, it plunges steeply down to seize its prey before emerging again beak-first to eat its haul. rspb.org.uk
Celestial light show
From 6-30 November, the Leonid meteor showers burst across night skies. Associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle, the Leonids are named after their radiant (the point from which meteors appear to emanate) in the constellation Leo, their cometary debris enteringtheearth’satmosphereandvaporising into streaks of light. The intensity peaks on 17-18 November – visit one of the UK’s Dark Sky Parks for a spectacular celestial light show. nationalparks.uk
Amber gamboller
In November, you’ll hear the pier
