A good place to birdwatch and walk is the Hutton Rudby/Swainby area. Lots of interesting things to see. On a walk yesterday around Hutton Rudby we saw dipper, kingfisher, grey wagtail and heron along the river. A family of jays in the trees by the river along with spotted flycatcher and banded demoiselle. Also stoat and ringlet butterflies near Ingleby Greenhow where we saw woodcock and little owl in the woods between clay bank and Ingleby Greenhow the other evening. Other favourite spots for us is Bishop Middleham Quarry and Duncombe Park in Helmsley and Bransdale. Does any one have any other out of area, favourite spots which they can recommend not too far away?
preston park.. i'v seen jay's, great spotted woodpecker, kingfisher,dabchick ,great crested grebe, stock dove , nuthatch. and tawny owl along with all the usual woodland and waterside bird's. mammal's i have seen there fox cub's , roe deer, mink, and an otter . ;) seen a few salmon and or sea trout jumping up there aswell..