When it snows up here on the Yorkshire Wolds the landscape is transformed and a drab winter's day turns into something really special. When it's like this I can't wait to get out and film the wildlife, especially animals playing in the snow. Scroll down to watch my video captures of the magic as the wildlife in my garden get out and enjoy the winter white.
Filming a winter wonderland
I have a network of more than 80 cameras here in my garden and surrounding countryside and I've captured some magical moments of animals playing in snow against the snowy backdrop of this beautiful part of the world.
Snow often spells hardship
When the snow hits here in the Yorkshire Wolds it can be hard for some of the wildlife. I've watched hares hunker down in blizzards as icicles form on their fur and my garden birds like robins need extra food when the temperature plummets below zero.
But animals also enjoy playing
But some of the animals actually enjoy the snow. After every fresh snowfall I can be sure to spot the stoats out playing in the garden. It's a lot of fun to watch as they jump and tumble over carpets of snow.
Watching animals experience snow for first time
My cameras have even recorded animals and birds as they experience snow for the first time. See the video below to watch a barn owl get an eyeful when it looks up at snow falling and see how a weasel reacts when it pops its head up out of its nest and discovers a fresh snowfall. Also enjoy a female stoat as she snow ploughs across the netting on my vegetable patch - and even on my children's trampoline!
Memorable moments on film
Some of my favourite wildlife moments have been captured in the snow. I've filmed kestrels kissing as snow falls around them, a buzzard landing on a snow-capped log, a sparrowhawk's dark plumage glowing against a winter white background - and even rare hawfinches feeding as snow drops scatter over their burnt-orange wingtips.
Bandita the stoat turns white
Bandita is an ermine stoat which means she turns white in the winter to blend in perfectly with the landscape. The process is fascinating and very rare to see here in Yorkshire.
Owl winter wonderland
I put food out for the owls that live here every evening and this can lead to some incredible footage as the barn owls land on the snow-capped branches. In fact, most nights after it snows, my garden turns into an owl winter wonderland.
