The fall in Irati forest

Arrazola (Irati) Valle de Aezkoa 11-10-2013

It seemed a month ago that the fall would be advanced, as in many places due to the lack of water the leaves of many trees were changing color.
Now, however, the forest is so green that it seems that we fall, if not for the high areas catching color before the low, and the abundance of fruits, both hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and the of themselves have, among others.
Possibly, but will have to go see him week after week, the increased intensity and amount will be achieved towards the last week of October / first of November. 

Beechnuts (edibles)

This year is a for the beeches a "vecero" year, that is, one year bear much fruit, others much less. The" vecería" is more pronounced  as  the species more wild  are.
Here we are the fruit of the seed open and ready to fall. Squirrels, dormices, wild boards and many kinds of birds will eat  them. Common finches are of those birds that we see frequently eating beechnuts on the road where they have fallen seeds, which were then crushed by cars, providing work.
They are edible for humans, once easily peel and remove the hairs that can give us a little itchy in the throat.
In the pastthey was used for human  meal making flour with them, and later for the pigs.

Common finch( Fringilla coelebs)

Arrazola(Aezkoa valley,Navarre) october 20, 2013

There has been some change in recent days and the forest is picking color, although there is still at least a week to take all those shades of color that characterize the beech forest.

Arrazola Information Point ( Aezkoa Valley )

The temperature has undergone rapid changes , and we've had days of small icy morning. However, what is prevailing  is the warm south wind , and so today at 9 in the morning we were at 15 degrees celsius .
In principle , the prognosis for the fall holds for the last week of October, first of November.
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Hypholomas in the water reservoir area of  Irabia. They are toxic

We have hit boletus, but yes a big variety of species, so a visit to the forest at this time we can offer good opportunities for photography.

The birth of an amanita.

Cortinarius sp.

Pale tussock(Calliteara pudibunda)

This beautiful caterpillar, abundant at this time in the beech forests around the north of Navarre, will become a beautiful moth or heterocero, (Limantriidae family) will fly for the months of April to June. Its caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the beeches, oaks, willows and hawthorns, among others.Despite its fierce appearance, is harmless.

5 november 2103

Arrazola car parks (2). At this time, the 3 car parks of Irabia reservoir water were full 

Already passed the long weekend of all saints (Halloween) where more than 2300 people passed through the entrance to Irati forest of Arrazola (Aezkoa valley) seeking  the colors of the autum. However, this year the fall is a bit late, and probably in this weekend will be when maximum color that can reach before the wind and rain (yesterday was raining all the day, and today remains the same) pull the leaves.

Irati, from the window of my house at 9:21

In the bordering southern valleys , however, it is possible to lengthen a little more, because having lower altitude the cold and wind they affected less , and because around here  oaks holds longer the leaf than beeches  (also emerge later.)