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Not as frequent a visitor to the gardens of Otley as it used to be, due to the effect of a deadly parasite that jumped from pigeons in 2005. The BTO estimate half a million Greenfinches died as a result in 2006 alone, though the population is now recovering. We can help here by maintaining good bird table hygiene. The male is a handsome, brightly coloured bird, especially at this time of year. The females build the nests, incubate the eggs and brood the young. Wordsworth wrot

We’re making “elderflower champagne” soon, and later in the year people will use the elderberries to make wine. Historically there have been many medicinal claims made for parts of this plant, but you need to be careful as they can be poisonous uncooked. Juice from the berries is a deep blue-purple, and it is used to colour both food and fabrics. The twigs are easy to hollow out – we used to make jewellery with the kids this way – but apparently in North America they are also

The Drone Fly is very common around Otley, this time of year. It is an accomplished honeybee mimic, with brown and orange markings, but is completely harmless. This mimicry helps to protect it from predators while it searches for nectar in our parks and gardens. Interestingly the drone fly not only looks like the honey bee but also mimics the way it flies. By River Six

This very small bird makes a very big noise – a scolding torrent of up to 740 notes a minute. An ancient fable crowned it the king of birds, an idea which persists in Germany, where its name translates as King of the Hedge, and the Netherlands, where it is known as the Winter King. It has a memorable latin name, too - Troglodytes Troglodytes – though the Otley Wrens typically live in woods, gardens and hedgerows rather than caves. Male wrens will build several nests themselve

These tall plants are numerous on the north bank of the river to the east of town. Alternative names such as Night Scented Gilliflower and Mother-of-the-evening indicate that their scent becomes stronger as the day goes on. You can see a range of flower colours in a small area: purple, pink, and white. The caterpillars of several butterflies like to eat them, and we can eat the young leaves too – they are high in vitamin C. The seeds are often included in wildflower seed mixe

This medium-sized beetle is found all over Otley, in woodland, along hedgerows, and in parks and gardens. The adults are sun worshippers and can be spotted sitting still on leaves sunbathing. The larvae are harder to find, they are born flattened so they can squeeze underneath the bark of trees and hide, whilst also eating the larvae of smaller insects. By River Six

These popular birds have successfully raised cygnets on the Wharfe, but if you get too close, you’ll see behaviour that contrasts with their usual grace and calm. They are called “Mute” because they are less vocal than other swans, but as well as the aggressive hissing at threats, they make a loud noise with their wings in flight. This is a bit like a foot pump blowing up an airbed, and performs the function of keeping the birds in contact with each other. Combined with their

This indigenous breed are becoming more numerous and seemingly more confident around Otley. They are almost a rusty red colour at this time of year, with a prominent white rump patch, heart-shaped on the female (doe), kidney shaped on the male (roebuck). This patch is “flashed” as an alarm signal to other deer (a bit like the bobbing white tails of rabbits), along with a noise from the male like a dog’s bark. They are regarded as pests because rather than grazing they feed on

You can see this tough member of the pea family along the old railway track to the east of town, but it’s generally quite common. It’s called Bird’s-Foot because of the shape of the seed pods; the Trefoil part refers to the three central leaflets that are prominent above the others. Another name is “Eggs & Bacon”, based on the red and yellow colouring seen as the flowers are opening, and another “Granny’s Toenails”. A fantastic source of nectar for insects, the plant is also

For some reason I was a bit sniffy about these non-native escapees when I was younger, but now I’m really pleased to see them on the Wharfe. The male’s plumage is nothing short of spectacular – he looks like he originates from some exotic, distant land (actually the Far East) – and it seems incongruous for such a shy bird. The female, as is so often the case, has the practical colours of the partner who has to sit on the nest. Having said that, Mandarins are also unusual duck

This beetle is in a league of its own when it comes to unusual names. It’s also known as a Doodlebug, Humbuz, Chovy, Dumbledarey, Kittywitch, Snartlegog and Bummler – names Roald Dahl himself would have been proud to create. It was nearly eradicated in the 20 th century, but pesticide regulation in the 1980’s led to a revival, and the one in the first picture was spotted in an Otley garden. They have had a complex relationship with mankind down the centuries: serious agricul

A master of disguise, at rest this distinctive moth resembles a broken birch twig in colour, size and shape. Conversely, the caterpillar is a bit easier to spot, being big, hairy, with black and yellow stripes. The first photo below shows one that recently pupated in amongst a wildflower patch in an Otley garden.

Our most well known amphibian, the Common Frog is a regular visitor to gardens across Otley. In fact our garden ponds are really important habitats for our frogs, especially when it comes to breeding time. In spring males arrive first and will perch themselves somewhere near the pond and croak to attract females, which are often significantly larger than the males. When a connection is made, the male will then often ‘piggyback' the rest of the way to the pond on a female. T

If you hear a sad, simple whistle – “pewww” - from the trees down at Gallows Hill, it’s worth taking some time to look for a pair of these beautiful birds. The male has a gorgeous deep pink chest, but the female’s subtle brown is attractive. Both have a sooty black cap, and in flight a noticeably white rump. The “bull” name is presumably a reference to their head shape. For centuries, their taste for the buds of fruit trees led to a bounty being offered for every one killed.