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They're back! Next time you’re cursing another miserable journey back to Otley on the X84, think about the salmon’s journey to our town and beyond. Starting off near Greenland or maybe the Faroes, they use their sense of smell to navigate back to the shallow shingle bottoms of our rivers, where they were born, upstream from Otley. Not only do they have to cope with the distance, the unusual transition from salt-water to fresh, the predators, the oppositional current and the w

This rubbery bracket fungus can be seen growing on Birch trees on the Chevin. It spreads through the dispersal of spores, and at this time of year the air is so full of them that you will breathe in thousands (harmlessly, unless you’re in that tiny group of people who are allergic to them). It’s thought that it establishes itself in small wounds in the bark, then may lay dormant for years, compartmentalised in a small area by the tree’s defence mechanisms, until the tree is w

To me these big birds don’t look at home in the air – a heavy-winged, dark presence, like a modern-day pterodactyl – but when you spot them statuesque in the shallows of the Wharfe, the shapes all make sense. Ghost-like, they blend into the background surprisingly well, and the long neck and beak are perfect for a lightning-quick stab at an unfortunate fish, frog or bird (and even occasionally a mole). They also look incongruous when nesting high up in a tree, with a mess of

This sweet-smelling flower has a whole host of different names, several relating to its old military use in staunching the flow of blood from wounds: Bloodwort, Staunchweed, Herbe Militaris, and Knight’s Milfoil. The Latin genus name Achillea Millfolium relates to such a use by Achilles in Greek mythology. Its feathery leaves give rise to names like Milfoil and Thousand Weed; whilst the name Nosebleed relates to its old use in both stopping or starting nosebleeds! It spreads

Best seen near the Gallows Hill ponds, but if you’re lucky you might get one of these dragonflies dropping into your garden. They come in a confusing range of colours - yellows, oranges, browns and reds - depending on gender and age. As the name suggests, they hunt by ambushing their prey, perching on (or hovering at) a vantage point till it flies past. They then take it to a favoured perch to eat. Common Darters have an unusual way of depositing their eggs: the male and fema

This iconic toadstool is not too difficult to find on the Chevin at this time of year. It is classified as poisonous, and crops up throughout popular culture, from Victorian literature such as Alice in Wonderland, to video games (Super Mario). We saw several examples last year on the excellent fungus walk organised by the Friends of Otley Chevin Forest. I learned a lot about fungi, not least that identification can be really tricky, and combining this knowledge with an awaren

There’s no mystery why this is such a popular bird and so ubiquitous in popular culture, from the gritty film classic “Kes” to the children’s story “Windhover” beautifully illustrated by Christian Birmingham. The distinctive way it hunts, hovering suspended in one spot, is impressive enough, but then you learn that its eyes are adapted to see ultra-violet light, such as that emitted by mice and vole urine, which consequently forms a helpful trail to such prey. As with most ra

One of these – a Common Green Lacewing – flew in our window. They are another invertebrate with wildly contrasting life stages. The delicate adult feeds on nectar, pollen and honeydew. They over-winter in leaf litter, emerging in the warmth of Spring. The female lays hundreds of oval eggs, attaching them by stalks to plants near food sources. The subsequent larvae are ferocious little predators, with an appearance to match. They have large, pincer-like mandibles, and use thes

Also known as the Scottish bluebell, this is yet another attractive wildflower to be found on the railway line east. They like dry, nutrient-poor habitats, such as grasslands and heaths, and can grow in cracks in cliffs or walls, and in stable sand dunes. Curiously, Plantlife named the Harebell the county flower of Yorkshire in 2002 – a bold assertion when the white rose is so prominent. Mind you, their website also says the flower’s delicate appearance is deceptive – it’s ac

Often called a Daddy Long Legs, along with the completely unrelated Harvestmen who are arachnids! There are actually a number of different gangly craneflies on the wing throughout the year but this month sees the mass hatching of probably our most common and larger species, Tipula paulosa but will also answer to Cranefly or Daddy Long Legs.The easiest way to see these guys is to sit andwait by a porch light, they usually coming crashing into one at some point, alternatively