© Barracuda1983
Pipistrelle bats have been noted on the wing, hunting, in the gardens and fields along Skipton Road at dusk. It is well worth standing outside and watching the aerial acrobatics of these small bats. Unfortunately their numbers are fewer than previous years.
If you’d like to find out more about Pipistrelle bats here’s a fact sheet and links to the UK Bat Conservation Trust and The Dales National Park.
www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/about/wildlife/species/animals/mammals/bats/
The ‘thorn field’ along Skipton Road has a long history of rabbit warrens and in January there were at least five with new broods appearing every five to six weeks. A sudden influx of domestic cats, at least six new, youngish cats, have been noted in the field catching first the baby rabbits but now even the adults have gone. A down side of this influx has been the increase in cat faeces in a number of Skipton Road and Bow Bridge Drive gardens.
The gardens have gone quiet as the last of the blackbird broods have been reared and fledged so the males have stopped singing. However, thrushes are still taking many snails, the broken shells being evident in the mornings. Early morning has also been a good time to enjoy spiders webs covered in dew. A species to look out for is the toad spider.
Plenty of toads have also been reported since the heat wave dissipated into torrential downpours of Biblical proportions. The extremes of weather seem to have affected the broad leaf trees with many looking as if Autumn is going to come early, but it is really too early to be certain.
Andrew Wilson – 01756 790 197 – andrew.wilson25@btinternet.com
