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Not short of great names, this fungus is also known as Lawyer’s Wig, and is quite common in Otley’s meadows, woods and verges (and ironically more common than Common Inkcap). The pale, flaking scales that give rise to the shaggy name are flattened by rain, and the cap starts as a cylinder or egg shape, before becoming bell-like. This later deliquesces (liquifies) from the lower edge, the resulting dark, spore-laden liquid gives the fungus the second part of its name. This pro

Garden spiders are the most common orb web spider in the UK often found in gardens, giving them their name. Now is a good time of year to spot the spectacular Garden spider. This is because the autumn mists leave micro bead strands of dew on their webs, highlighting what could otherwise go unnoticed. Although they are nocturnal, you can often find the spider resting on the edge of the web. She will be the female, as the smaller males having done their job have died by this ti

The second part of this fungi’s latin/scientific name is Polymorpha, which means “many forms”, but this fantastic specimen found by Simon Carey on the Chevin is a perfect match with its colloquial name. It is in the same family as the truffle, and our example is the same colour, but it is inedible, and sometimes shades of blue or green. Unlike most fungi, it takes several months to distribute its spores – others are much quicker. It particularly likes the stumps of dead Beech

Chocolate Brown-Headed Gull would have been more of a mouthful, but more accurate, at least in the spring and summer. Now the colouring is reduced to just a couple of dark spots. Their latin/scientific name means “Laughing Gull”, a reference to their familiar call. They’re a gregarious bird, but with some odd interaction with other Black-Headed Gulls: they may lay their eggs in another’s nest, and may eat another’s chicks. During the early 19th century they were actually quit

Another occupant, perhaps, of the Wildlife Rogues’ Gallery, but let’s not over-anthropomorphise this animal. They may not be your favourite cute mammal, with their determined consumption of the goodies you intend for the birds, and it is undoubtedly a shame that they have displaced the Red Squirrel, but in their native North America they are ecologically essential, as a natural forest regenerator. It was the planet’s most destructive animal that brought them to these islands

Blimey! How do I do the “King of the Forest” justice in a short paragraph? It really deserves a book. This magnificent tree can live up to thousand years: “300 to grow, 300 to live, 300 to die,” (die meaning a gradual retraction and the shedding of branches). It produces up to ten million acorns in its lifetime. It is a keystone species, which means that it plays an absolutely critical role in its ecosystem, supporting more wildlife than any other native tree. Over the years

They may be very common, but they’re worth a second look. This is not just for their breeding season plumage, with the glossy, bottle-green head of the male, and the iridescent blue patch on the secondary wing feathers of both sexes. These sociable omnivores are the main ancestors of most domesticated ducks. Their unfussy appetites have helped them thrive, but the bread that well-intentioned people feed them down at the park has very little nutritional value to them, and need

Rabbits were important to us as a source of food and clothing for many centuries after the Normans brought them to Britain. Although now we’re more likely to have them as a pet, they still have a significant role in many a food chain, a crucial protein source for a number of mammals and birds. Counter-intuitively, a rabbit’s bobbing white tail is actually a defence mechanism. The predator focusses on it, only to be confused when the rabbit turns and it disappears. The second

Well, okay, I didn’t actually see a mole, but the fresh mounds of earth were pretty compelling evidence. On the few occasions I have actually seen the mammal I’ve always been struck by its fish-out-of-water appearance and the strict practicality of its build. Eyes and ears seem virtually non-existent in a face dominated by a powerful nose, and the huge front claws (with extra thumbs) are adapted for some serious earth-moving. Yes, it is a bit irritating when molehills pop up

This is another fungus with a helpful name slowly eating the rotting wood around Otley. We can thank the Americans for what is now its most popular name – in England it used to be known as the Many-zoned Polypore – more scientific perhaps, but a tad dull. It can actually vary quite a lot in appearance, whilst sticking to the broad contour-like template. This leathery fungus has been used over the years to decorate tables and even hats. Studies are taking place to investigate

These cute little lime-green spiders are to be found in the gardens, hedges and woodland of Otley. Confident in their camouflage colours they sit in the middle of their web rather than hiding. The female can be almost twice the size of the male, though still less than a centimetre. Their spiderlings are red when hatched, but brown by this time of year. All totally harmless to us, of course. Look out for them now before they disappear for the winter. Photo by Ann Riley

Some fungus names leave you scratching your head (Destroying Angel, Chicken of the Woods, Hairy Curtain Crust anyone?) but not this one. As Claire’s photos show, the resemblance is uncanny. Its distinctiveness means I feel relatively safe mentioning that it’s edible, but apparently its bland taste doesn’t match its vivid appearance. Recently cleared, stony forestry tracks are particularly good places to spot it. Photo by Claire Blindell

WFO-supporter Emma Dunnett yesterday spotted adults and larvae together on some fence posts above Weston Woods. The larvae have a quite incredible appearance, whilst the big adults confusingly vary a great deal. Also known as the Asian Ladybird because of its origins, the Harlequin has had a decidedly negative impact on UK wildlife since its introduction in 2004. Not only does it out-compete the native ladybirds for food, it also eats their eggs and larvae, and has better dis

I love these striking, noisy waders, with their long red beaks for opening molluscs or probing for worms. Once called Sea-pies, they were confined to the coast, but they have now spread inland and are not uncommon around Otley. I see them most flying over in pairs or small flocks – Wharfedale seems to be a bit of a highway for wildfowl and waders. Many of them will over-winter at the coast. They show a strong fidelity to both partner and home, with one study finding a pair th

This is a hardy tree, for whom the sometimes disappointing weather of Otley is no problem at all – it flourishes in Arctic Norway. There are many different types of Rowan, one of which is the Mountain Ash, and several hybrids, such as Whitebeam. Watch out for birds such as Thrushes enjoying the berries at this time of year, and if we get a cold snap you might be lucky enough to see Waxwings, with their gorgeous plumage. Traditionally, people have used the berries in many diff

Possessors of a strange beauty, but undeniably slimy, these invertebrates produce three different types of mucus: one as a lubricant for movement, one to prevent them drying out, and one particularly unappetizing type (that may also contain toxins) to deter predators. Also in their defensive armoury is the ability to contract to a hemispherical shape and rock from side to side to confuse attackers. They need a moist environment to facilitate this mucus production, so they’ll

There are several rookeries in the Otley area, including one on Kirkgate, though the avian ones are quiet now after the din of spring and early summer. Away from these busy colonies Rooks can be a little difficult to distinguish from Crows, but the Woodland Trust have a straightforward guide – see the link below. There are several great collective nouns for Rooks– parliament, clamour, building and storytelling – and at this time of year flocks often amalgamate at dusk to roos

There are many examples of this sturdy tree in the Otley area. Its edible nuts are loved by mice, squirrels and woodpeckers, as well as Nutella fans, and several species of moth, fungus and lichen have a special dependence on the Hazel tree. There are many uses for its strong timber, too. My neighbour cuts straight, slender lengths to be used as walking sticks, but its flexibility has also been utilised to make baskets, wattle and coracles. It is often coppiced – cut back reg

This stocky, loud thrush exemplifies the complex inter-connectedness of nature with several mutually-beneficial relationships. So for example the bird’s great appetite for mistletoe berries (the origins of its name), benefits the plant through the excretion of its seeds on to branches where they can germinate. Also, Chaffinches and Mistle Thrushes often nest close to each other, with the combination of the former’s vigilance and the latter’s bold aggression benefiting the cha

At this time of year Atlantic salmon join our more familiar brown trout in the high jump contest taking place up our fast-flowing weir to spawn up stream. And just like athletes the fish can often be spotted warming up below their obstacle waiting for the optimum moment to make the leap. The salmon are capable of leaping 4 times their own body length, which when experienced brings to mind a time when this valley was a true wilderness and the salmon weren’t leaping a weir but