For many species such as bats, toads and dormice, there is a late-autumn rush to feed up before hibernation. But many animals and birds have different ways of surviving the lean winter months and can be seen by reserve visitors.

Watch out for grey squirrels and jays hurrying around gathering and caching nuts and seeds. Both bury hazelnuts and acorns, creating a mental map which they use to relocate their larders during the winter. Wood mice and bank voles also hoard nuts and can sometimes be heard and then seen scurrying across the woodland floor.

As the trees pack away their winter leaves, they gradually reduce the green chlorophyll revealing fiery reds, orange and yellows. Trees such as beech can hold onto their leaves right through the winter, but most deciduous trees quickly create a carpet of discarded leaf litter on the woodland floor. This layer creates a whole new habitat for many invertebrates and close examination can reveal a whole community of ‘mini beasts’ including beetles, springtails, spiders and even pseudoscorpions... tiny little predators less than half a cm long. Don’t worry, they don’t sting!

Winter also brings migrating birds to the reserves, seeking food and shelter. Waterfowl such as teal, wigeon and pochard join resident mallards and tufted ducks. Some waders favour our reserves to colder habitats further north and snipe may be seen probing in soft mud with their long bills. Passage migrants such as wood sandpiper or spotted redshank might drop briefly onto our wetlands for the lucky observers. At some reserves it’s possible to come across woodcock hiding in damp woodlands, though usually these are almost impossible to see with incredible cryptic plumage.

This is also the peak season for spotting fungi across the county. Damp meadows may host large parasols or shaggy inkcaps, whilst in woodlands brackets such as the rich red beefsteak or birch loving razor strop fungi hangs on the trees.

During winter, many species of bird form loose flocks to roam through scrub, gardens and woodlands. These are easily seen, as they are constantly noisy and often include a dozen or more long tailed tits and blue tits. Look out for coal tits, tree creepers, marsh tits and you might be really lucky and see the diminutive lesser spotted woodpecker amongst the gang.

Rooks and jackdaws also seek safety in large mixed flocks and noisily wheel above winter roost sites in undisturbed copses. The greatest displays though are from starlings who use the reedbeds at Brandon Marsh through the main winter months. Typically, the numbers increase from November and peak in December and January. Numbers vary each year but its always a memorable experience. The main ‘performance’ starts around dusk as groups from across the area join to form larger flocks and then create shapes that confuse would-be predators.

As the winter progresses most insects have either died or are tucked away in crevices. On a warm day, look out for queen bees and small tortoiseshell butterflies lured out to search for nectar. Look out for black cap and chiff-chaff; two warblers who are encountered more frequently in UK winters than in previous years.

During the coldest months of the year and especially if temperatures drop below freezing, some very shy species of bird become more visible. Most notably, water rail and bittern may be seen walking across icy gaps in reedbeds. Cold weather also brings small birds, nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers to feeders at many of our sites and even the increasingly rare willow tit might be seen at Whitacre Heath or Brandon Marsh. Busy bird feeders will also attract hunters and patient or lucky observers may get close views of sparrowhawks as they attempt to ambush unwary prey.