Autumn is on its way

A feast for the senses

Autumn is on its way.  We can feel it with slightly cooler temperatures, a little bit more breeze in the air, a dampness where lots of spiders suddenly appear.  We can smell it with ripe fruits and fresher air.  We can hear it with geese honking as they fly.  We can see it in the start of the amazing colour changes in the trees and we can taste it with the ripe fruits.  Autumn attacks all of our senses.

In the early morning and late evening it is most apparent.  It even seems to bring to life our sixth sense as many can feel a change.   Autumn is the season of the year between summer and winter.  In the northern hemisphere this means from September to December.  It is the season when leaves fall, plants become dormant and some animals hibernate.

The autumn equinox

The official date for the first day of autumn this year is Sunday 23 September 2018.  On this day there will be near enough an equal number of daylight hours to night time hours.  It is on this date that as we rotate around the sun, the sun will be over the equator.  From September to December the earth continues to tilt even more until the sun will reach its most southerly aspect over the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere, on 21 December 2018.  This will be the winter solstice when the sun will be furthest away from us in the Northern Hemisphere, then the season of winter begins. 

The equinoxes and solstices sometimes move by a day or two, so meteorologists use meteorological autumn (1 September - 30 November) for consistency.  

A mosaic of colourful leaves

Already there are signs that autumn is on its way.  Looking up into the canopy of trees some leaves are changing colour.  These tend to be the leaves that are on high branches or on limbs of a tree that are prominent.  As the temperature drops it starts to close off the passage of fluids to the leaf, causing changes of colour.  The colour varies from yellows to reds depending on the tree.  These are brilliant colours that reflect the sunlight and bring a variety to the canopy of trees.   

As the leaves lose their sap they lose grip on the branch and fall from the tree.  The leaves fall and form a wonderful place to walk. Try crunching and scuffing through newly fallen leaves is a must for all of us, children and adults alike.  Try catching a leaf on a windy day as they blow off the tree.               

A bounty of fruit

Looking down there is more evidence that autumn is coming.  Already trees are shedding their fruits.  Acorns can be seen lying under oak trees already.  These acorns at present are green and seem to be falling early.  As they ripen on the tree they will turn brown.  As the weeks progress into September conkers will start to fall from the horse chestnut tree. 

It is another must for all of us is to find a shiny conker. Try to grow one.  They grow very easily, just push one into some earth and the conker will germinate by the spring.      

Already it is possible to see other signs of autumn.  Fruit is ripening on all trees.  Apples, plums and pears seem to be doing well this year with plentiful fruit, although it is small.  In the hedges, the upper branches are turning red with the fruit of the hawthorn and wild roses, hips and haws.  Blackberries are also starting to turn from red to black in the hedgerow.

Time for bird migration

Birds are already starting to leave the country.  Swifts are the first leavers and are already on their way.  Swallows and house martins will leave probably very close to the autumn equinox on 23 September 2018. The swallows tend to sit on telegraph and electric wires over the roads and tend to wait until there is a group and then fly together.

Keep looking up as the seasons change other things become apparent.  “Clanging chains of geese are harnessed to the moon”, a quote from a poem by Roy Campbell, Autumn.  In the autumn geese can be seen flying in a V formation in the early evening or early dawn and they often honk as they fly.  So if you hear a strange noise, look up it could be geese. 

Autumn creeps in

Autumn is not a sudden happening, it is gradual.  It creeps up as August passes into September. By October it reaches its finest colourings. Once we reach December the leaves have all fallen and the starkness of winter is here. 

Hedgehogs are beginning to wander around thinking about hibernation.  Squirrels are starting to collect their acorns to store for winter food.  There is a lot happening outside at the moment.

Enjoy autumn, it is an amazing season in this country.  Get into your local wood or walk along the lanes and see what nature has in store for you. 

Tell us about the signs of autumn where you live

Keep an eye open on your nearest woodland tree, maybe one you pass every day on the way to work or school. Let us know the date of the first autumn tint of the leaves, the first leaf falling and in time the first time you see the tree without any leaves left. 

We need help. We need everyone to help. The more records we receive the more accurate the information becomes. This helps to track changes in seasons and helps to identify any climate change.

Please get involved and record for Nature’s Calendar.  In recording it really makes you feel as though what you have seen is of importance to the world.