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Vertebrates

Mammals

Mammals come in many different forms, the largest seen in the park are roe deer with the smallest being shrews and pipistrelle bats. The commonest of our animals is the grey squirrel. They are often seen in the Autumn collecting acorns and beech nuts for the winter. You may find nuts that have been chewed by them or pine cones that have had the scales chewed off. ​​​​

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Small animals that are difficult to spot are shrews and wood mice. Both live in holes in walls and muddy banks. We know there are moles, because mole hills appear but again these are rarely seen above ground. Foxes, rabbits and hedgehogs are regularly seen. The foxes, as far as we know, are just passing through. Several “hedgehog hotels” have been made to attract more hedgehogs. We have had some success with these but sadly on was vandalised. 

 

Bats

A special mention must go to our local bat population. Two species of bat, the common pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bat have been recorded in the park. During the mating season, pipistrelle bats can be heard social calling and have been seen flying around the arena. Bats can roost in a wide variety of locations. The common pipistrelle bats we see are likely to roost in nearby housing. Daubenton’s may roost in the crevices and voids within some of the mature trees in the park. 

 

Every year we have a bat walk event led by a local expert, Robert Bell. Robert provides special listening devices to hear the constant stream of echo-location noises produced by the bats. According to Robert, Bingley has a health bat population with several large roosts. 

Birds

Many birds visit our woodland park. Some are particularly attracted by the many oak trees including Jays, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and Treecreepers. Jays are easily spotted as they are quite large with pinky brown bodies and bright blue feathers on the wings. In the spring Woodpeckers can be heard drumming on the trees. This activity can be hunting for food, excavating a home or communication. When working in the park there are always robins hopping around looking for worms and insects that we have disturbed, they may be common but are such a delight to watch! We have erected a number of bird boxes to attract small nesting birds. A video of one of these being used by a blue tit can be seen here. Less commonly, owls have been heard in the night though we are not sure they live in the park. In 2015 a pair of Sparrowhawks nested in one of the pine trees, very interesting for us but not so good for small birds and mammals. They have been seen since, but don't appear to be nesting in the park. 

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Sparrow hawk.jpg

Sparrowhawk hooding its prey (a blackbird), photographed at the side of Park View House in 2021

A nuthatch spotted coming out of its nest in one of the Park's mature trees.

During a walk round the Park, organised with the RSPB, the following birds were identified:​​​​​

  • Blackbird

  • Blue tit

  • Carrion Crow

  • Chaffinch

  • Chiffchaff 

  • Coal tit

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  • Great Spotted Woodpecker

  • Great tit

  • Goldcrest

  • Jackdaw 

  • Nuthatch

  • Robin

  • Song thrush

  • Stock dove

  • Willow warbler

  • Woodcock

  • Wood pigeon

  • Wren

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Amphibians and reptiles

Frogs and toads (which are actually just a type of frog) are sometimes seen, particularly around water features.  The live in cracks in walls or crevices in trees so are not readily seen.

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In theory, the heathland at the top of the park could be home to grass snakes, but we've never seen any. They probably wouldn't like all the dogs we have visiting the park!

 

At the moment we also have a lack of pond dwelling animals.  Something we hope to change if the ambitious plans for water management, including a large pond, are realised.   

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