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WFV, Hetchell Wood YWT Reserve 22nd April 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Tue, 22nd Apr 2014, 8:44pm

Early Purple OrchidEarly Purple OrchidDespite cloudy conditions and some rainfall the Bees party of twelve enjoyed a productive short day out in this species-rich YWT woodland on the outskirts of Leeds. We were well led by Eric who has visited this woodland on many occasions. The bird list was a relatively short one -14 species, notable sightings were Blackcap and Marsh Tit (seen only by John). However it was the spring flora that we delighted in seeing, the count being 42. ( I wonder whether we will exceed this figure on our next visit to Skipton Woods). The woodland contains a mixture of alkaline and acid soils producing an interesting variety of flora. Extensive coppicing of Hazel and other trees has taken place, hence the high numbers of habitat and log piles, creating a more extensive area for woodland flora to generate. This experiment did appear to be bearing fruit or should I say flora. ToothwortToothwortThe flora seen can be identified as :- The yellows - Celandine, Marsh Marigold, Primroses, Cowslips, Golden Saxifrage and Yellow Archangel. The blues and purples- Bluebells, Violets Dog and Hairy, Green Alkanet, Early Purple Orchid. The whites - Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrel, Wild Garlic, Dogs Mercury, Jack by the Hedge. The greens - Lords and Ladies, Twayblade (in leaf). The grasses and sedges - Wood melic, Woodrush, Spring Sedge, also a parasite on elm Toothwort. Finally, the fungus species seen was King Alfreds Cakes and the butterfly species seen was Speckled Wood. Regretfully several of our members were missing. We felt our identification skills were gently being rekindled following a period of inactiviity during the winter months. We look forward to our next woodland visit to the Woodland Trust reserve at Skipton Woods. Thanks to Eric for a good day out.

Margaret

WFV, Cusworth Park, nr Doncaster 15th April 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 16th Apr 2014, 4:57pm
Cusworth HallCusworth Hall

This was a change to the programme as we had intended to visit Hooton Pagnell in order to see the wild daffodils. The walk leader was unfortunately, however, unable to attend. The decision, therefore, was taken to postpone this visit to next year.

The weather during the day was splendid; blue sky throughout and only a gentle breeze. We invariably have good weather but this was the best day of the year so far. Four of the group had to cancel at short notice so only 11 members were able to enjoy the lovely day.

The warm conditions brought out the butterflies in numbers and we were fortunate to see 8 different species in all; Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Comma and a couple of Holly Blues. No damselflys were spotted.

A total of 59 plants in flower were recorded by Alice including Yellow Archangel. Birds seen included Mistle Thrush, Wren, Dabchicks, Chiff Chaff and Blackcap. ChiffchaffChiffchaffA small cluster of St. George's mushrooms was the only fungi recorded.

The site isn't large and we were able to cover it quite quickly so plenty of opportunities to spend time in the very popular cafe. Being Easter holidays it was pretty busy with many families enjoying the park.

Gillian and Dania opted for a more cultural day by visiting the Hall.

The driving was shared by Sue and Robert

John Gavaghan

WFV, Wheldrake Ings, 1st April, 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Sun, 6th Apr 2014, 7:24pm
Rusty Wind TurbineRusty Wind TurbineWe had planned to visit Wheldrake Ings last autumn but the trip had to be postponed as a dry spell had left the reserve with very little standing water. One of the wettest winters on record meant there was no such problem this time. Stuart was our leader for the day and was also driving the full minibus which parked up at Bank Island, part of the Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve. A moth trap had been running overnight and John in particular took considerable interest in trying to identify the moths that lingered on the eggboxes. As we made our way down to the 2 hides sited on this reserve, a herd of cows started charging at us. Fortunately it was only a short-lived stampede and the cows came to a halt. The second hide was the better of the two. Birds seen included shelduck and gadwall. On the riverbank close to the hide both male and female goat willow were growing. Whilst heading back to the car park to use the picnic tables we spotted a treecreeper and possibly a bullfinch. After lunch we walked on to Wheldrake Ings where there were several hides. Small TortoiseshellSmall TortoiseshellThe morning had been overcast but the afternoon was much brighter and this brought out the butterflies, small tortoiseshell, peacock and brimstone. Most of the birds were quite distant but two telescopes were available and whooper swans were spotted. Waders were lacking. Three buzzards were seen in flight and a marsh tit was noted. 48 birds were recorded. Donald reported that someone had seen a pintail but no-one I spoke to said they had seen it! 14 plants in flower were recorded, the most notable being hogweed which is flowering very early. Robert spotted a stoat and I was pleased to also catch a glimpse of it when it popped its head up for a second time from the end of a boardwalk. The paths were very muddy in places and Robert gallantly cleaned Marilyn's boots for her before boarding the bus for our return journey. Sue

WFV, Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, 18th March 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Thu, 20th Mar 2014, 2:49pm
From Piper Marsh HideFrom Piper Marsh Hide

A party of 14 led by Donald set off for YWT's flagship reserve. This large site lies 2 miles south of Doncaster, alongside the M18 at DN4 8DB. It has 13 hides and is bissected by a main railway line, so not the quietest place in the world. The Sedum House entrance is opposite B and Q. There is ample car parking and various toilet facilities.

The weather wasn't as good as it usually is on our outings as we suffered several short light showers and it was breezy throughout. However, had we stayed in Bradford we would have had rain for most of the day! We were luckier, as for most of the afternoon we had sunshine; albeit accompanied by a cold wind. Unsurprisingly no butterflies or moths.

Female Reed BuntingFemale Reed BuntingDonald recorded 38 species of birds which included: Willow Tit, Reed Bunting, Wren, Gadwall, Pochard, Shoveler, Dabchick and Marsh Harrier. There were large numbers of Black-headed Gulls and a few Lesser-black backs so yet more layers of noise! Towards the end of the afternoon, Martin, Marilyn and myself found ourselves in the Piper Marsh hide where we were treated to the sight of a nesting Kingfisher. This had been spotted by Marilyn, despite not having brought her binoculars. Whilst we were observing this bird she noticed a large bird flying above the reedbed. Marilyn had hit the jackpot as it was the site's star attraction; a Bittern!

If only Annie had arrived 30 seconds earlier she would have seen it too. Mind you, the Kingfisher was still there! On the way back we heard our first Chiff Chaffs of the year.

Joan recorded 17 plants and 3 ferns including Early Dog Violets and Celandines. Willow TitWillow TitOnly fungi seen were Turkeytail, Bich and Blushing Brackets. There was also plenty of evidence of leaf mining on brambles by the micro moth 'Stigmella aurella'.

Janet was distressed when she realised she had left her rucksack in the previous hide; fortunately, it was still there. The tearoom was well attended by the group, some of us making 2 visits!

The driving was shared by Robert and Sue.

John Gavaghan

WFV, Golden Acre Park and Paul's Pond, 4th March 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Fri, 7th Mar 2014, 8:15pm
Scarlet Elf CupScarlet Elf CupThis week's trip to Golden Acre Park was a popular one with a nearly full minibus meeting up with 4 cars. We started the day by walking to Paul's pond. Some of the group had not been here for many years and were pleasantly surprised at how it had been developed. Our leader Marilyn set an unusually fast pace for BEES and some of us were lagging behind looking at fungi. Our first and best fungi of the day was the scarlet elf cup. We also noted turkeytail, lumpy bracket and dead man's fingers. On our return leg from the pond there was a shower but it wasn't heavy or prolonged and it didn't spoil the day and once this passed we did get some sunny spells. SnowdropsSnowdrops Most of the group then made their way to Adel Dam Nature Reserve where we tarried in the first hide for lunch. We saw a good range of birds including mandarin, nuthatch and greater spotted woodpecker. A lone rat also put in an appearance under the bird feeders. The path to the second hide was very muddy and only the most intrepid chose to brave the conditions. MandarinsMandarins In the afternoon the group dispersed - some wandered around the park and spent time in the cafe, some sat and chatted in the sun and others went on a bird hunt. A red kite and a buzzard were sighted. There were numerous tufted duck on the lake as well as greylags and mallards. Redwing were seen on the periphery of the park along with goldfinch and mistle thrush. A jay was also spotted. The first celandine of the year was noted and there were beautiful displays of snowdrops. A lovely early Spring day out.

Sue

WFV, Indoor Meeting, 18th February 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 19th Feb 2014, 4:24am
A fascinating afternoon enjoyed by 18 of us when we roamed from the northern wilderness of the Taiga forest of Finland to the sandy beaches and coral reefs of Mauritius with the soft grassy downs of Hampshire sandwiched in between . We enjoyed the evocative scenery of Finland to the strands of Sibelius's 2nd symphony; the butterflies and orchids of the Hampshire Downs and Isle of Wight and especially those colourful fish of Maurtius's coral reefs. Presentations by Margaret, John and Martin made up a very varied programme and were very much appreciated by the group. In addition we had the treat of cake provided by Alice and Janet. Thanks to Nick and Julia for supporting the meeting.

Margaret

WFV, Hodsock Priory, 11th February 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Tue, 11th Feb 2014, 8:16pm
The HouseThe HouseAnd then there were eleven, some of our party were missing including our leader Joan. However Margaret and Robert took the helm. The weather conditions deteriorated markedly giving us rain and sleet as we drove south on the A1M. After some navigational problems we arrived at Hodsock and were warmly greeted by Sir Andrew and Lady Buchanan the present owners. The weather conditions were poor so the party was happy to gravitate to the marquee tea room to realise their vouchers for a free cup of tea. We explored the gardens and woodland at our leisure (some of us completed the route twice). We marvelled at the swaths of snowdrops, aconities, iris, cyclamen, mahonia, winter honeysuckle, witch hazel as well as fungi. Bank Of CyclamenBank Of CyclamenEarly afternoon and sunshine appeared. The group set off again in the direction of the woodland. At two o'clock several of us gathered around the bonfire at the woodland hut to listen to George Buchanan, son of the owner, tell us the history of the family and the house. Birds seen by the group included goldcrest, blue and great tits, robin, tree creeper and pied wagtail. A woodpecker was heard.Our visit was enjoyed by all. We expressed our gratitude to Robert for driving safely in difficult conditions.

Margaret

WFV, Bird Safari Lower Wharfe Valley, 4th February 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Tue, 4th Feb 2014, 9:35pm
Weir At OtleyWeir At OtleyNo rare migrants but a long list of birds were seen by our party of 15. John recorded a total of 38 species. After the recent storms and floods we were lucky to experience a fine day with some sunny periods. A storm was predicted for the next day. We started our safari at Yeadon Tarn where we saw a good gathering of ducks - Tufted and Pochard, flotillas of Goosander male and female, Great Crested Grebe as well as resident Mute Swans, Black-Headed Gulls and Mallard. Following our call at Waitrose supermarket we drove to Weston Lane and scanned the lakes of Otley wetland and surrounding fields. A Cormorant was seen on the lake, a large flock of Curlew was seen feeding in the adjacent field. Signs Of SpringSigns Of Spring On arrival at Wharfedale Meadows two very old birds of prey were seen.They had been carved on the stone work of the gatehouses dated 1618 forming the entrance to the Farnley Hall estate (Farnley Hall is owned by the Fawkes family who had strong connections with the painter William Turner). Their identity proved to be a mystery! The weir which was in full spate was spectacular however of considerable interest to several group members was the drone which was being used to photograph the environs of a large housebuilding site which is being built on the site where Garnett's Mill had previously stood. Long-Tailed TitLong-Tailed TitOur afternoon walk down Castley Lane beyond Pool in Wharfedale was to be productive providing sightings of the aerial acrobatics of red kite and buzzard. Teal, Moorhen and Heron were seen in an area of wetland. The Tits - Blue,Great and Long-Tailed also Finches, Chaffinch and Bullfinch were seen in the hedgerow and woodland. Other birds sighted on the day were Dunnock, Sparrow, Kestrel, Lapwing, Robin, Crow, Blackbird, Goldfinch but no Wren, Raven or Thrushes. 16 species of plants and trees in flower were recorded. Keeping to tarmaced paths and quiet roads we had been successful in avoiding muddy boots and clothes. Our day was yet further proof that Tuesday is a good day to be out even in winter.

Margaret

WFV New Year Social 21st January 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Thu, 23rd Jan 2014, 9:22am
Our New Year Social took the same format as on previous years - food, a review of 2013, a look forward, some necessary administrative tasks and a quiz. Margaret gave us a quick run through on places visited and some of the birds., flowers,and fungi we had seen during the course of the year. This was followed by Sue's presentation of digital images. Joan gave us some ideas on places we could visit in 2014 which elicted some lively discussion among group members. Finally John provided us with a testing and varied quiz on natural history.The meeting was well attended and much enjoyed. Thanks to all who gave a helping hand. Margaret

WFV, Spen Valley Greenway, 7th January 2014

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Tue, 7th Jan 2014, 7:52pm
Looking At The Memorial in Victoria ParkLooking At The Memorial in Victoria ParkThe New Year’s Walk for 2014 took on a new format in that it was linear. There were quite a few cancellations due to ill health so only seven participants headed off from Bradford in the minibus to our starting point at Woodlands Cricket Club in Oakenshaw. There a further seven people joined the party to walk the 4.5 downhill miles to Heckmondwike on the Spen Valley Greenway. We started off at the memorial in Victoria Park which commemorates the loss of 38 lives in an explosion at the nearby Low Moor Chemical Works in 1916 in what was once a heavily industrialised part of Bradford. The weather at the start of our walk was clear, bright and mild and we meandered happily along enjoying the surprisingly open countryside along the route as we dodged the many bike Sheep SculptureSheep Sculptureriders who make good use of this Sustrans route. The mild weather tempted one or two plants into flower and we were accompanied by numerous birds as we enjoyed the various sculptures that are a feature of the route. After a short shower, lunch was taken a mile or so before we reached Heckmondwike where a small flock of redwings entertained us. RedwingRedwing After we reached our destination the weather took a turn for the worse and so the café at Morrison’s was a welcome retreat for most of the party whilst they waited for the minibus to be fetched from our starting point for the return journey. Some members of the party ventured as far as the Tog24 factory shop and Sue was rewarded by the purchase of a pair of £8 walking boots! This was a not-too-strenuous outing, ideal for an early-season walk which allowed everyone to dust off what cobwebs remained after the recent festivities.

Stuart

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