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WFV, Scargill House, 4th June 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 5th Jun 2013, 1:04pm
Going Through the MeadowGoing Through the MeadowOur visit to Scargill House was long awaited but oh what a wonderful day it turned out to be! Sunshine, blue skies, butterflies on the wing, a plethora of flora, stupendous views of Wharfedale and "the crowning jewel" of a pied flycatcher. The minibus was full for our day's outing: Margaret and Alan chose to drive by car. We were warmly greeted by Hugh and Lisa Firman, our leaders for the day. They looked after us superbly offering tea/coffee and biscuits before our walk. This involved a steep ascent of the valley side. Hugh and Lisa proved to be excellent guides showing us the special plants and insects, explaining the history and conservation management of the estate. Speckled Yellow MothSpeckled Yellow Moth68 species of flora including grasses were identified by Joan, in addition there were 4 fern species. There were shouts of "blue moor grass", "mountain melick","rock rose", "woodruff" ! We enjoyed grassland and woodland species that thrive on limestone. Spring seemed to have been extended into summer with violets, wild strawberry, early purple orchid seen at their best. There were signs of more good flowers yet to come - St John's wort, bloody cranesbill to name but two. Green Hairstreak ButterflyGreen Hairstreak ButterflyMuch excitement was shown by one of our group at a sighting of a speckled yellow moth (not just one but a good number were seen enjoying the sunlight and their food plant - wood sage). This day flying moth is a rarity nationally. Other butterfly species were brimstone, green-veined white, speckled wood and green hairstreak. The northern brown argus and dark green fritillary were yet to come. However the species that created the most interest on the day was the pied flycatcher.Nest boxes had been put in situ only 3 weeks ago and this morning Hugh had observed a pied flycatcher using the nest box. BugleBugle Would it make an appearance for our group? It was seen wrestling with a worm on top of a dry stone wall. I thought flycatchers were supposed to prefer flies. The Scargill worms must be especially delicious. 24 bird species were recorded including siskin and goldfinch, several pheasants eggs were seen. Our most productive day was rounded off by a cup of tea and cake at the Centre followed by a visit to the Walled garden. Our thanks go to Hugh and Lisa for giving us such an enjoyable day.

Margaret

WFV, Rodley Nature Reserve, 21st May 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 22nd May 2013, 8:13pm
The Fish PassThe Fish Pass

June was the co-ordinator for our visit to Rodley Nature Reserve, a place that we have been to several times but our previous 2 visits were in the autumn. A lot of people had chosen to come by car and joined the few that travelled on the minibus. Graham, a volunteer at Rodley, joined June in welcoming us and informing us about recent developments at the reserve whilst providing us with hot drinks and cake in the visitor centre. Such luxury! The reserve is undertaking a project to introduce harvest mice - these tiny little creatures could be observed in a glass tank in the visitor centre. Graham then led us out beyond the butterfly bank and through the John Ackroyd meadow where we were shown kestrel boxes in which kestrels have successfully reared chicks in previous years. Oystercatcher and ChickOystercatcher and ChickIt is hoped that chicks will be seen again this year. We also saw wooden platforms where 2 pairs of swallows are believed to be nesting. We were then led to an area that is not accessible to the public down by the river where Yorkshire Water has constructed a fish pass that will enable several species of fish including grayling and trout to negotiate the weir. This will aid them in their migration, improve fish populations and should even benefit otters that feed on these fish. As we stood near the fish pass we saw reed bunting in the reed beds and heard the call of a water rail. We think we also heard a grashopper warbler but it did not make an appearance. We were shown a new construction, a swift tower, where swift call is periodically played to encourage them to come and nest as swifts are known to be reluctant to use new nesting sites. 

Reed BuntingReed BuntingAt this point we were then let loose to explore the reserve as we wished. Birders headed for the hides and botanists for the meadows and fields. 50 birds were seen including reed warbler, sedge warbler, buzzard and whitethroat. A swan with 3 cygnets was seen on the duck marsh and an oystercatcher and chick on the lagoon. Over 70 plants in flower were recorded. The highlights were crowfoots, yellow water lily, bogbean and corn salad. The day had started overcast with a little light drizzle at times. The weather did brighten up and it got quite warm but we did not see any damselflies. Our butterfly man was a little out of sorts today and left early but we noted at least three species including orange tip. Our lunch was the second sitting in the visitor centre to avoid clashing with the school party that was spending the day on the reserve. All went smoothly thanks to the organisation of June and Graham. 

Sue

 

WFV, Malham Cove & environs 14th May 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 15th May 2013, 12:03pm
Heading To The CoveHeading To The CoveA great day out, something for everyone but oh wasn't it cold and threatening rain when we arrived at Malham National Park Centre! We were aware that the peregrines had given birth to 3 chicks. The adults were flying in good weather gathering food for their young. Would we be fortunate enough to see them? We arrived at the Cove and were greeted by the RSPB warden Jon and his volunteer helper. They encouraged us to use the telescopes to look at a peregrine (male or female not known until flying - the female is larger than the male) perched on the cliff edge away from the nest. RedstartRedstartDonald was anxious to get the walking group going on the planned 4 mile walk which would involve a steep climb up the Cove steps, along the limestone pavement onto the moorland and then a descent to Janet's Foss. A party of 8 started out on the walk however after a steep climb 3 opted to return to the Cove for some birding. The weather was certainly brightening up and the birds were enjoying the sunshine. WhinchatWhinchatThey were singing from the trees and flying around busily, some in pairs. We were fascinated by the redstarts which were all over the Cove; their red breasts and grey backs shone in the sunlight. There were other avian delights - good views of tree creeper, green woodpecker, willow warbler, whinchat, robin, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, jackdaw, wheatear, buzzard as well as peregrine in flight. The botanists - a party of 5 - seemed to enjoy their exploration of the Cove and grassland. Highlights included meadow saxifrage, false oxlip, mash valerian, common whitlow grass, salad burnet and shining cranesbill. .False OxlipFalse OxlipMary and Alan completed a walk to Janet's Foss and back to Malham. The walking group returned to Malham before "the strollers". Good views were enjoyed . A dipper was seen at Janet's Foss. 2 butterfly species, a rabbit and a roe deer also were seen on the walk. A stoat crossed Margaret's path while driving to Malham. A happy united group enjoyed tea and cake at a local Malham tea room at the end of the day.

Margaret

WFV, Goitstock, near Harden, 7th May 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Thu, 9th May 2013, 2:49pm
WaterfallWaterfallThe walk was led by Joan and Maddie. On this occasion the mini-bus was not used and all 15 of the party made their way to the start under their own steam. All of the non-drivers were kindly given lifts.

As is usual for these outings the weather was good. Actually it was splendid, hardly a cloud in sight all day. We began from The Malt Shovel and then headed up Goitstock Lane. This led us towards the delightful, undulating, unimproved grassland hillside, where we sat down for a very early drinks break. Joan informed us that this is the second best such site in the entire district.

We also stopped to read the informative notice board about the mill and its owners that had once occupied part of this site.

During the day we came across 45 plants in flower plus 6 ferns.DipperDipper Notables included Moschatel, Greater Stitchwort, Ladies Smock and Wood Sorrel. Joan also pointed out the leaves of Wolfsbane, a plant that flowers in July. Carpets of Celandines and Anemones were a delight. Bluebells however, were only just beginning to make a showing.

Butterflies were in short supply, given the warm conditions and we only sighted Orange Tip and Peacock.

There was a great amount of birdsong that included Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Song Thrush. Sightings were made of the first three and also of Dippers, Grey Wagtail, Jay and a Buzzard.

Lunch was taken near a row of cottages. Although much of the walk was easy there were some tricky patches; a boggy field and later a path by the beck crisscrossed by tree roots. One particular handrail proved a challenge but Phillip fortunately had both hands on the rail when his feet left the ground. Stuart and I were also there as supports so there was no real risk of any injury. We then passed by the waterfall which must be the finest in the district.Wood Sorrel By The FallsWood Sorrel By The Falls

A rather splendid Summer Oyster Mushroom aka Branching Oyster (Pleurotus cornucopiae) was spotted on a dead Birch. A swarm of tiny moths were also seen, two of which were captured and later identified as Dyseriocrania subpurpurella. They were both later released unharmed although probably a bit stressed!

We finished up at Stephen Smiths Garden Centre where half of the remaining party treated themselves to drinks and cakes. The cafephobics however went off home for a cheaper cup of tea! Sue also bought herself a watering can.

John Gavaghan

WFV, Stirley Community Farm, Huddersfield, 30th April 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Tue, 30th Apr 2013, 8:09pm
Stirley FarmStirley FarmToday's trip was organised by Peter who also managed to arrange a good sunny day for our first visit to this Community Farm which was taken on by the Yorkshire Wildlife trust in 2011 in an effort to show that farming and wildlife can exist together. Enthusiastic manager Kim Warren, whose previous job had been managing Jamie Oliver's garden in Essex, explained to the 16 members of our group what had been achieved so far and what plans they had for the future, as this project is still very much a work in progress. An orchard has already been planted and the field nearest the old farm house is being turned into a series of beds in which various crops were being planted by volunteers and by community groups. The farm buildings are at present being converted into an education centre and a residence and offices for the farm. Anxious CalfAnxious CalfAfter Kim's address and a look round the farm, where they were just turning out some of their Shorthorn cattle with calves, we walked on a mile or so to Upper Park Wood, a small YWT reserve of about 2 acres which lies within the 240 acres of Stirley Farm. Here we lunched sitting on a south-facing sun-drenched slope whilst being serenaded by the songs of many different birds. After lunch we carried on a short way to explore more of Upper Park Wood and we again enjoyed the sunshine and the extensive views over the Pennines before we returned to the minibus, which we had parked under the shadow of Castle Hill via Stirley Farm and their Portaloos.GoldfinchGoldfinch Kim told us that so far they had not experienced any problems with either rabbits or deer, but perhaps that's about to change as we saw a single roe deer heading towards the farm from Upper Park Wood as we walked back. Spring is late this year and bluebells only just starting to show flower, nevertheless Joan did record 28 plants in flower and one fern. The bird count was exactly the same number, with a first whitethroat sighting of the year and a buzzard the highlights, although the real birding highlight was in fact the continuous sound of birds singing their hearts out trying to attract mates. Three species of butterfly were on the wing, with an orange tip being a first sighting of the year. A lovely day out thanks to Peter's organisation and Sue's driving.

Stuart

WFV, Ox Close Wood And East Keswick Marsh, 23rd April 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Sat, 27th Apr 2013, 7:53am
Enjoying Lunch In The SunshineEnjoying Lunch In The SunshineEric and Joan had organised this week's trip but unfortunately Joan was unable to attend on the day. Our outing to Ox Close Wood proved to be a popular one. A couple of cars met up with the minibus at the car park on Crabtree Lane, East Keswick. A few people took advantage of the refreshment van - the aroma was quite tempting. We were met by 3 volunteers from the East Keswick Wildlife Trust, Melanie, Margaret and Paul, who were our guides for the day.Their knowledge of the site, enthusiasm and expertise were so helpful and enabled us to get the most out of our visit. Whilst being briefed in the car park a greater spotted woodpecker flew right over our heads. Our route took us over the road and down the path towards the river.Our first butterfly of the day was a small white. Before reaching the river we crossed a stile into the wood where we were greeted by carpets of wood anemones. Melanie told us about the history and management of the reserve which was formerly owned by the Harewood estate. Primroses, violets, cowslips and a few bluebells were in bloom. A total of 5 butterflies were seen including brimstone. Our guides showed us the site of the thistle broomrape where the seedheads were still evident. A cup-shaped fungus was seen on the edge of a path. This has yet to be identified. Lunch facilities were relatively luxurious with garden chairs or logs for seating in a beautiful sunny woodland glade. There was even a bijou, open-air toilet nearby. After lunch Paul showed the group charcoal burners and explained the process to us. We then headed down to the river initially to a shingle beach where small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies were seen nectarring on the butterbur and a pied wagtail was hopping around by the water's edge. Wood AnemonesWood AnemonesWe continued on the path that hugged the river where we saw opposite-leaved and alternate-leaved golden saxifrage growing side by side. Yellow star of Bethlehem was also seen, Other botanical highlights included moschatel, few-flowered leek, goldilocks buttercup and a small-leaved lime tree. 33 plants in flowers and 2 ferns were recorded today. A pair of goosanders were seen on the river but they were startled by a loud distant noise and flew off. When we got to the bridge we took the path back to the road. The bridge is currently cordoned off as it has been damaged by falling trees. After regrouping at the minibus, we considered options for the afternoon. Small TortoiseshellSmall TortoiseshellThere were 4 possible sites to visit but we decided that one would suffice - East Keswick Marsh which was just a short drive away. East Keswick Marsh is owned by the local parish council but managed by the East Keswick Wildlife Trust. The volunteers do a fantastic job of keeping the invasive himalayan balsam at bay. Large swathes of celandine in the grassy areas and marsh marigold by the ponds give a lovely splash of colour. One clump of frogspawn was found in one of the ponds. Stuart was very fortunate to spot a woodcock rise up from scrub. This was undoubtedly the highlight of the 25 birds seen today. Several fungi seen on a fallen tree gave rise to much debate about its id but it was finally decided that it was a willow bracket. A drink in the local pub rounded off a perfect day. Many thanks to Eric and also to our volunteer guides who gave up considerable time to show us around.

Sue

WFV, Sprotborough Flash YWT Reserve, 16th April 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 17th Apr 2013, 1:45pm
BrimstoneBrimstoneToday's visit to Sprotborough Flash YWT reserve in south Yorkshire lifted our spirits. The weather was on our side - it was fine with some sunny periods. The wind although mild was quite strong in the Don Valley. We welcomed the signs of spring that were present in the avian, floral and insect world. The group followed the footpath between the Flashes and River Don. The Flashes are lakes caused through mining subsidence. The trees and bushes were full of "little brown jobs" and bird song. We had good sightings of chiff chaff and other spring migrants:- black cap, willow warbler as well as resident tits - great, blue and long tailed. The yaffle of a green woodpecker was heard in the distance. From the hides we viewed a pair of great crested grebes building a nest, a buzzard resting in a tree, swallow, house and sand martin flying over the Flash, a greylag goose and pheasant in the grassland. 35 species of bird were recorded. Our walk through woodland brought the flora to our notice. The woodland and grassland have a band of magnesian limestone as their base. Wood anemones provided a wonderful white carpet, violets- four varieties were identified. BuzzardBuzzardDogs mercury an indicator of ancient woodland was present in profusion. To our surprise four species of butterfly were seen on a large area of bramble. They included several comma butterflies, brimstone, peacock and small tortoiseshell. John told us that these butterflies had recently emerged from hibernation . They were noticeably very still. Our walk continued upwards passing several yew trees to the disused railway line. We walked along the line then diverted past an arable field until we came to an area of exposed grassland. This area is managed for the benefit of summer flowers including orchids. Our party of 15 had enjoyed the day greatly and thanks to Sue's driving arrived back in Bradford in good time.

Margaret

WFV, Staveley YWT Reserve, 19th March 2013

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Thu, 21st Mar 2013, 6:33pm
LagoonLagoonThere were two spare seats on the mini-bus for this week's trip to Staveley, a YWT reserve which is very familiar to regular BEES participants. Although dry it was cold, but considering the recent wintry weather experienced this month we considered ourselves fortunate to have some spells of sunshine. As we walked through the wooded area towards the lagoon we saw some extensive jelly fungus. A small bird coming and going from a small hole in a tree produced some debate about its identity. Both marsh and willow tits can be found on this reserve. The final consensus was that this was a willow tit. On reaching the lagoon we spotted goldeneye, teal and oystercatchers. The "twoooo" of an owl could be heard. As we continued on to the second lagoon we saw several redwing flitting between the trees and the field. Fieldfare were also evident. Reed BuntingReed Bunting We had lunch in the impressive straw bale hide. A group of people were doing some conservation work very close to the hide so this may have kept some birds away. After lunch most of the group wandered round to the hide overlooking the other lagoon. Beyond the hide in trees and shrubs on the left of the path yellowhammers were heard and seen. Other bird sightings included greater spotted woodpecker, meadow pipit, long-tailed tit, kestrel, heron and buzzard. A skylark was heard but not seen. The final bird count was 45. The number of plants in flower only reached single figures. Many thanks to Stuart for leading today's outing.

Sue

WFV Tuesday 5th March Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 6th Mar 2013, 10:12am
Fountains Abbey ArchesFountains Abbey Arches

What a brilliant day! Paul Hudson's weather predictions had turned out to be accurate. Fog and mist in the morning to be replaced by sunshine from midday onwards. On arriving at the Studley Roger car park we divided into two groups - those who planned to walk around the grounds of Fountains Abbey NT property and those who planned to complete the circular seven bridges walk in the environs. Six of us choose the walk which took us initially down the main drive with its avenue of lime trees. Unfortunately the mist shrouded Ripon Cathedral in the distance. At the bottom of the drive we took the farm track to the right passing a bank of snowdrops lining a field edge. A solitary curlew was spotted in the middle of the field. We walked through woodland to follow the banks of the River Skell and crossed over seven bridges. A grey wagtail was seen bathing in the fast flowing river. Alice took considerable interest in the lichens on the stone walls and trees. We admired the avenue of sweet chestnut trees with their contorted trunks and incised bark.The party emerged at the large ornamental lake where golden eye, tufted duck, greylag and canada geese were seen. It was an uplifting walk. At last we'd got it right and choosen a lovely day to be out and about.

Margaret

Our group chose to enter the Abbey grounds via the Studley Royal entrance. This proved to be wise as we were greeted by a National Trust guide who gave us an excellent introduction to the history of the site. None of us had realised that the World Heritage designation had been awarded not for the Abbey ruins but for the almost unique water features.

JackdawJackdawWe headed alongside the foot of the lake towards the Abbey and soon took a steep but short uphill path that led us past various features such as the Octagonal Tower and Ann Boleyn’s Viewpoint. By this time any lingering mist had dissipated to leave stunning views of the water gardens and abbey. Because there was no breeze, the water acted in its intended way as a mirror for the evergreen vegetation. These gardens had been designed to be green the whole year round.

Akram who had rejoined the group after an absence of over 3 years, due to health reasons, stayed on the lower path and we soon met up with him when we made our descent. Another attendee was Virginia, a young volunteer BEES worker from Spain who was making her second field-visit with the group.

Birds seen included a Buzzard, Nuthatch and Little Grebe. On the lake were Gulls, Mallards, Swans, Coots and Tufted Ducks. A solitary Primrose was spotted by Janet. Much evidence of ongoing work was observed such as removal of some of the Yew trees and the creation of Bosquets.

After a visit to the Abbey Tearooms we made our way back via the ruins where we investigated several of the rooms including the Documents room.

John Gavaghan

WFV Tuesday19th February 2013, Indoor Meeting

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Thu, 21st Feb 2013, 6:00pm
On a bright sunny February day 21 members of the BEES group gathered at the Unitarian Church Hall for a presentation of digital images taken on their visit to India by Janet and Alice. We were given an intriguing insight into the people, architecture and wildlife of North West India. It was enjoyed by all concerned including the refreshments which were comprised of a variety of Indian sweets; biscuits and banana cake. Our thanks go to Janet and Alice. In the interval Margaret thanked the leaders and drivers on behalf of the group more especially Brian for his magnificent contribution as a driver over many years. Joan distributed information on the forthcoming summer programme. Margaret