With it being half term and a very pretty autumn, we thought we’d share some of the wildlife that’s worth looking out for in the coming weeks. On the sunnier days, a really great way to get outside is, of course, to go for a walk, and a great motivation for this can be to see what you can spot. It’s always great to take advantage of the great Yorkshire Dales!
If you fancy a woodlands walk, it can be fun to try and spot some fly agaric fungi among the fallen leaves. These are the red mushrooms with white spots that always make appearances in fairytales and fantasy stories. These often appear near the roots of birch trees.
On the other end of the spectrum, a more difficult thing to spot is a red deer (the UK’s largest deer). October is one of the best months for getting close to them, but they do tend to be rather shy! If you’re on the hunt, try searching in moorlands and on the mountainsides.
Something most people in Yorkshire have likely seen at one point is hares, which dart about all year round but are more often noted in autumn and winter when the crops are shorter, making them more visible. Did you know that hares are found all over the world except in Antarctica?
Lastly, you’ll see lots of birds this autumn. Look out for robins, which are a classic marker of the colder months, and starlings, which migrate to the UK in the winter. Starlings partake in something called a murmuration, which is when they all fly together in large groups described as ‘synchronised aerial acrobatics’.
We hope you enjoy some nice autumnal walks and make sure to show us any wildlife pictures you manage to snap!
