What To Look Out For
Year-round wildlife alerts and top tips on common wildlife to look out for on the coast of North and East Yorkshire
One day I see endless green verges on my lockdown walk, a depressing monoculture of one colour; grass and more grass. A few short days later I start the same walk and as if by magic the grass has been hijacked by dandelions. The blossoming speed has taken me by surprise and lifted my spirit.
Exploding white flowers from bare black branches, blossom before leaf, March belongs to blackthorn. Every winter I look forward to that first spring bloom, and then as if by magic an amazing carpet of white covers the whole tree.
Starting from the village of Buckton, just a couple of miles north of Bempton village, the old farm track that is Hoddy Cows Lane takes you all the way to the edge of those fabulous cliffs.
I will never forget my first experience of showing a group a roosting tawny owl.
There is something really magical about finding a beautiful songbird eating the berries in your holly tree knowing this bird has recently flown over a thousand miles to visit your garden.