January Priority Species workshop

Hello all,

To celebrate the new year there will be a priority species workshop on Weds 4th January at 7.15 in the Mytholmroyd Countryside Services Office (above the library). The meeting will include an update on Calderdale's Biodiversity Action Plan and small discussion groups for different species.

It will be a opportunity to discuss actions for priority species in Calderdale for the coming year with Hugh Firman and other interested parties. If you would like to come along and contribute to the meeting please email Hugh to express your interest: hugh.firman@calderdale.gov.uk.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Christine

Earth Flight

Hi All

For those of you who have missed the TV ad then here is the link
Its on Thursday night 29th December.

WALK TO COMMEMORATE COLIN DUKE
And sponsored New Year Bird Count in aid of Overgate Hospice.
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All are welcome to join me for a 4 mile walk round North Dean Wood.
January 1st, 11.45 am for 12.00 start from car park below Clay House at West Vale.

We will be looking at fungi, one of Colin's favourite groups, and keeping tally of all bird species we see or hear, in the tradition of many birders on New Year's Day.

Why not get your friends or family to sponsor you per bird species. (We would be lucky to find 20.)

Bring a snack and hot drink if you like. Paths are muddy with some climbs, but suitable for children who are used to walking and dogs.

Steve Blacksmith (Chair, Halifax Scientific Society.)

To all Bloggers. 

Have a good 2012.

January Meeting at Cromwell Bottom

Robin Dalton has organised a meeting with Chris Tomson from the RSPB to visit Cromwell Bottom on the 12^th January 2012. Click for full details.

British Egg Collector Sentenced to Prison Term

December 13, 2011 - Matthew Gonshaw (49) of Cherrywood Close, Bow in East London, has extended his infamy for being Britain's most imprisoned egg collector by being sentenced to yet another jail term, for six months, following conviction for stealing and possessing wild birds eggs, including those of some of the rarest and most threatened birds in the UK.  Full Story

Christmas Social

Just a reminder that the Christmas Social is tonight at the Central Library, Halifax at 7:30
Sale of books. Free Tea, coffee, cake. Displays. All Welcome.

Colin Duke

The death of a friend is a terrible thing. A friend with the same interests at heart is a rare thing.
Colin could always be relied on to have a view on the identity of a species, or at least the right family to search in. His knowledge made him a favourite with all, from adults to children.

I'll always remember when he invited me to assist him with a stream-dipping session in the centre of Hebden Bridge. A 3-year old girl took her first sweep with the net and brought out a tiny bullhead fish. It was beginners luck, because that species had not been recorded in Calderdale for many decades.
The little girl was not impressed, but Colin was. He said he always enjoyed most working with children.

He had no children of his own but Colin belonged to the wider family of naturalists and countryside volunteers. He took a leading role as chair of various groups, including the Sustainability Forum and for 10 years the Halifax Scientific Society.

He will be a hard act to follow.

Colin Duke

There is a short note about the sad death of Colin on the Bird Blog. Colin died on Saturday at Overgate Hospice. Colin held many posts at the Halifax Scientific Society and was President at the time of his death.
He will be missed by a great many of us to whom he freely gave help and imparted knowledge over many years.


The funeral service will take place at Halifax Chapel of Repose, Clare Road on Monday, December 12th, 2011 at 1.30 p.m. followed by committal and cremation and Park Wood Crematorium, Elland. Family flowers only please by request, but donations if desired to either Overgate Hospice or The World Wild Life Fund and a box will be available at the service. Will friends please accept this as the only intimation and meet at the chapel.

Holdsworth Fields and Soil Hill

The first snow of the season on Monday.

Holdsworth Fields, Monday

                        Snow Bunting on Tuesday - one of six birds.

Snow Bunting. The best picture I could manage!

Soil Hill opposite the mast, Tuesday morning.