The natural world is in full preparation for the winter that will follow, doing everything it can to survive until spring.
It's a time of change and there’s lots to look out when you wrap up warm for an autumnal walk.
Here are 10 things to look out for in October.
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![Sloes are the fruit of the blackthorn, a common tree across Scotland, and look like small plums. Pretty much inedible to all but a few hardy bird species, they do have one great use - to make delicious sloe gin to warm you up on cold winter nights. October is peak sloe season, when they are perfectly ripe.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjhmZTVkYzNiLTkyN2EtNDY0Ny05ODkwLTI0Y2NlNTM5MzNlNzpmNmFlZjc2OS02MmYzLTRjMTMtYmNmOS1lYjVlZjU0YzdkOGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Sloe down
Sloes are the fruit of the blackthorn, a common tree across Scotland, and look like small plums. Pretty much inedible to all but a few hardy bird species, they do have one great use - to make delicious sloe gin to warm you up on cold winter nights. October is peak sloe season, when they are perfectly ripe. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![October is also peak time for the myriad of mushrooms and toadstools that litter Scotland's woodland. Grab an identification guide and see what you can be find - but make sure you are 100 per cent certain they are edible before popping then in the frying pan with some butter.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjExZTI2NTNhLTY4OWItNDVlNC05N2I0LTRkYWU5ZmFiMjMzYTplY2FlYjA0Yy1hMmQ5LTRkN2EtYWYwOC0zNTMwNjU1MWJiMjg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Go on a fungus hunt
October is also peak time for the myriad of mushrooms and toadstools that litter Scotland's woodland. Grab an identification guide and see what you can be find - but make sure you are 100 per cent certain they are edible before popping then in the frying pan with some butter. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![Widespread in mainland Scotland but notoriously tricky to spot - you'll never forget your first encounter with a Tawny Owl. A stroll in the countryside - or even a city park - in October is perhaps your best chance, particularly when there's a full moon. Youngsters are searching searching for territories of their own, leading to plenty of activity and no little confrontation - even if you can't see them you'll certainly hear them.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmJlM2NhMDg3LTgyZTAtNDRhMi1hNzJlLTMxODc2YTAxMWI4ZjphMDFjYWM4Yi00NjIyLTQ1NDYtYTM4Yi02MTQ0NTM3NzgwMDc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. A ghostly flier
Widespread in mainland Scotland but notoriously tricky to spot - you'll never forget your first encounter with a Tawny Owl. A stroll in the countryside - or even a city park - in October is perhaps your best chance, particularly when there's a full moon. Youngsters are searching searching for territories of their own, leading to plenty of activity and no little confrontation - even if you can't see them you'll certainly hear them. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![Another nocturnal animal that is easiest to see in October is the badger. These beautiful mammals need to gorge on anything they can get their claws on - from worms to acorns - to put on up to 50 per cent of their body weight in order to get through winter. This means they are out-and-about lots more in October - and are less wary of humans in their frantic search for food.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjBhMjZlZjhmLTRhZGMtNGQzZC05NWQyLTYzNTczNWEwYTMyODphZWJiZDUyYS04YjAwLTQzNGYtYTg2Zi1mYmU4Mjk2NWJmNmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Banqueting badgers
Another nocturnal animal that is easiest to see in October is the badger. These beautiful mammals need to gorge on anything they can get their claws on - from worms to acorns - to put on up to 50 per cent of their body weight in order to get through winter. This means they are out-and-about lots more in October - and are less wary of humans in their frantic search for food. Photo: Canva/Getty Images