Outdoor Almanac

This month, you might hear woodpeckers tapping on tree trunks, glimpse robins and waxwings foraging on berry-laden shrubs, and witness the vivid fall colors of bog plants like pitcher plants and sphagnum moss. Porcupines start their seasonal courtship rituals, while northern watersnakes and other wildlife prepare for winter. From snow buntings in open fields to the majestic Leonids meteor shower lighting up the night sky, November invites you to experience nature’s quieter, yet vibrant, seasonal shifts.

What will you discover this November? 

Visit a local wildlife sanctuary or join us for a program to make the most of your November.

NOVEMBER

3

Listen for woodpeckers tapping on tree trunks to uncover insects to eat or, as with the louder repetitive drumming, to communicate. 

6

American Robins and Cedar Waxwings forage for winterberry, viburnum, and other fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. 

9

Pitcher plants, sphagnum moss, and sundews in bogs have turned yellow, orange, and deep maroon, making fall a beautiful season to visit a bog.    

11

You may see inch-deep, cone-shaped holes in your yard or along forest paths left by Striped Skunks as they forage for grubs and earthworms. 

14

Full Moon 

15 

Normally solitary animals, porcupines only come together in the late fall for mating, which usually involves fierce and loud battles among the males vying for a female’s attention. 

16

Bald-faced Hornets create intricate hanging nests made up of chewed wood mixed with hornet saliva. These nests are only used for one season, so after a couple of hard frosts, it is possible to dissect them and appreciate their beautiful, complex architecture.  

17

The Leonids, one of the most active meteor showers, peak just before dawn. This shower is known for fireballs (larger explosions of light and color) and Earth-grazers (meteors that streak close to the horizon and have long, colorful tails). 

19

Keep an eye out for newly arrived Purple Sandpipers. They are perfectly camouflaged on windswept boulders in Gloucester, Scituate, Westport, and other areas with rocky shorelines. 

20

Beavers are preparing for winter by storing up food and making repairs to their lodges.  

22 

Northern Watersnakes are hibernating, coiled up on rocky ledges and riverbanks, and inside muskrat and beaver lodges.  

23 

Snowy Owls may have arrived and will stay here through April. If you happen to see one, view from a respectful distance so as not to disturb or stress the owl.  

25

Watch for wintering Snow Buntings and Horned Larks in fields and open areas as they search for seeds on withered, golden grasses. 

26 

Look along forest edges for Wild Turkeys or their tracks and signs. Turkeys can crack acorns in half with their beaks, leaving the split shells behind.  

28

Early snowfalls bring an opportunity to see tracks of squirrels, rabbits, foxes, and skunks, and even fishers or coyotes.