GOLDFINCHSo many species are suffering serious existential threats that it’s nice to hear success stories. Goldfinch numbers are rising, and these...
COMMON BLUEPerhaps not the perfect name: it’s not that frequently seen in Otley – it’s more that it’s the most widespread of the British blues – and...
HERB ROBERTThere are many medicinal claims made for this common member of the Cranesbill family, including as a cure for diarrhoea. It is believed...
LAPWINGAt the moment I’m seeing these fantastic birds between Otley and Leathley, and on the south side of the Chevin, but I used to see so many...
ELEPHANT HAWKMOTHThis has to be my favourite moth, they are fairly common in the parks and gardens of Otley but quite hard to spot, which is hard to...
HORSE CHESTNUTThe nation’s Horse Chestnut trees are under serious attack from a disease called Bleeding Canker, so it’s been good to see the...
BLUE TITIn my first bird book – a well-thumbed Observer’s Book of British Birds – it was charmingly named the Blue Titmouse or Tom Tit, and...
YELLOW ARCHANGELAs the Wildlife Trusts’ website says, “as the Bluebells fade, Yellow Archangel takes its turn to impress”. You’ll find them in the woods...
COMMON MAYFLYI spotted a Mayfly over the riverbank, near the confluence of the Wharfe and the Washburn. Their up-and-down flight pattern is quite...
PIPISTRELLE BATIt flew so near me I could hear its wingbeats. As dusk drew in it was hunting insects, flitting expertly in and out of the...