My Favourite Animals to Spot - by Maria, aged 10

3 min read
My Favourite Animals to Spot - by Maria, aged 10

Hi! My name is Maria and I love animals. From birds to butterflies, I love them all! My favourites, of course, are birds because they are so lovely and when I spot one it makes me smile. Whenever I go outside it makes me feel calm and happy and I feel like I can do anything! I think being outside makes everyone calmer than they were before- even if they are very cross! My favourite bird is a goldfinch because I really like all their colours and they sing a pretty tune. 

Sometimes when I go on a walk in the summer then I see dragonflies and I really do think they are incredible. They fly just like birds except their wings are thinner and they shimmer with so many colours. 

One animal I would really like to spot is a hedgehog because they are one of the animals that I have never seen in real life (because they are nocturnal), and it would be so cool to see one properly. Here are some things I know can help hedgehogs: 

  • Leave a water bowl out at night so if a hedgehog that is visiting your garden gets thirsty, it has something to drink from.
  • If you have nets of any kind in your garden, put them away at night so a hedgehog (or other animal) doesn't get stuck in it.
  • If you want to be extra supportive of hedgehogs, you could cut a hole in your fence (with permission from your neighbours, of course!) for hedgehogs to come through at night.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Top Tip: If you ever come across a hedgehog at daytime, it is probably sick or in need of help. However, do not touch it because you could hurt it- just call the Hedgehog Rescue Center closest to you- they'll know what to do!                                                                                                   

And an interesting fact: Did you know hedgehogs can swim? 

Although squirrels can be a garden nuisance, I find them super amazing too. Imagine being able to jump about 10 feet far and 6 feet high! They really are phenomenal. It is all down to their brilliant, quick brains, their strong leg muscles and their big tails, which they use as a sort of parachute to basically fly to the next branch.

Something that really interests me is that lots of animals come out at night, like foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and moths. They do this because they want to avoid predators and the heat of daytime. Some of these nocturnal animals only come out in summer and hibernate during the colder months, whereas others come out all year round. 

Whilst we are out and about, we often see lots of animals around us, whether in a bustling city or on a quiet walk in the countryside. And it could be just a pigeon that you see. Or an ant. But what really matters is that you noticed that one tiny thing. And this helps remind us that we are part of something so wonderful, so big and so beautiful.

Thank you so much for reading this. I hope you've found it helpful and I also hope you've learned a new fact that you didn't know before.

We have Little Moments Outside, a wildlife spotting guide for children, available on our online shop. Pair it with a Little Lantern feeder and a bag of food to encourage your young birders to get out and enjoy their garden wildlife.

While you're here

Because there's always something worth knowing about the birds in your garden.
Clare Cahill

Thank you for reading!

Clare Cahill is a bird enthusiast with a passion for observing and learning. While she definitely doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the calm and connection that comes from letting a little wildness into our everyday lives.

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When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

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