aLL UPDATES

Gorse - January 2023

In dull, rainy January there are few wildflowers around to brighten up the day. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is one exception which is always a...

European Rabbit - April 2022

There are more than 30 species of rabbit around the world, the one we see in Otley is the European rabbit. Whilst not native, actually...

Blue tit - March 2022

Despite the cold chill still in the air, signs of spring have started to appear; snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses are all blooming. The...

Tufted Duck - February 2022

During the winter, Otley has emptied of swifts and many of our warblers but on the water birds gather to keep safe and stay warm. The...

Sparrowhawk - January 2022

Even though Sparrowhawks are our second most common bird of prey (around 40,100 breeding pairs in the UK and increasing) they fly among...

Common Centipede - December 2021

There are places outdoors in Otley that don't succumb to the life-numbing cold. Leaves that gather under hedges are still teeming with...

Blackbird - November 2021

Blackbirds live in Otley all year but at this time of year and throughout the winter our resident birds are joined by migrant birds from...

Garden Spider - October 2021

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...

Common Shrew - September 2021

This month as summer draws to an end and autumn begins, shrew numbers are at their peak! They have had a busy few months of feeding and...

Stoat - August 2021

Young stoats born in spring are now splitting up to hunt for themselves, making this notoriously difficult to spot mammal, a little...

European Honey Bee - July 2021

The European honey bee, now found worldwide, is known for its delicious honey and painful sting. While painful, most stings are harmless...

Sycamore aphid - June 2021

There are more than 500 aphid species in Britain. Some feed on only one or two plant species, but others can be found on a wide range of...

House Martin - May 2021

It is May, soon our Swifts will be back, but first are our House Martins. Having returned from their African winter grounds in the Congo,...

Song thrush - April 2021

The Song Thrush is a familiar bird, brown above, with a white belly covered in black, drop-shaped spots, they are a smaller bird than the...

Brimstone Butterfly - March 2021

One of the absolute joys of early spring is catching sight of a fluttering, lemon yellow butterfly. Amazingly the word ‘butter-fly’ is...

Nuthatch - February 2021

Winter has its advantages, with no leaves on many of our trees its easier than any season to watch some birds. Such as the very smart,...

FIELD VOLE - January 2021

With a population of 75 million, the field vole is one of the UK's most common mammals. To put that number in perspective, the UK’s human...

ROBIN - December 2020

Christmas is not going to be the same this year, but some things remain the same, like our constant friend throughout the seasons, the...

FIELDFARE - November 2020

Along with their more easily identifiable Redwing cousins, Fieldfares have arrived in Otley! I often feel a little sad noticing all our...

ATLANTIC SALMON - October 2020

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...