Twite update for 2012 - good news at the end.

Though only one birder reported a small breeding colony, there were a few passing groups of Twite in small numbers, at Swalesmoor (above Boothtown) and Soil Hill (near Ogden) notably. (per Dave Sutcliffe.)

Swalesmoor is at SE088276 and Soil Hill is at SE077314.

The RSPB did not organise monitoring of breeding colonies using volunteers this year.

Charlotte Weightman, for the RSPB, continued with the reinstatement of flower-rich meadows project in Calderdale, as in previous years, appealing desperately for volunteers to help complete the seeding of the last fields in between the copious rain of this wettest year on record for England and Wales. Well done to Charlotte and her asistants! Sorry I never got round to lending a hand this year.

Male Twite at Rishworth in April 2011. Would  anyone like to  provide a better picture?

Unfortunately the spread of ryegrass monocultures in Calderdale continues. I notice it particularly in the Greetland/ Stainland Dean area, which could be all down to one wildlife-blind farmer. (They often rent fields at distances from their home farm.) Are there any other black-spot areas  for Twite, flowers and insects anyone has noticed ?

I was invited to monitor Moselden Head Quarry by Marshalls (Hx) Ltd for Twite as they were about to resume quarrying. In 7 visits from March to August I confirmed only one singing male on a wire near the entrance to the quarry on 24th April.

The fields over the road from the entrance are planned to be upgraded for flowering plants to help Twite, though they already support a great many dandelions. This land is owned by Marshalls who have consulted Natural England. Several times flocks of up to 40 Carduelis sp. could be seen and heard feeding here in the mist and rain, but were thought to be all Linnets. I did this as a voluntary job for Marshalls.

Numbers built up at one site in Calderdale, (Derby Delph Quarry,) to about 100 Twite in October. This was to feed on niger seed provided for them. They seem to use the site as a pre- and post-breeding gathering area, according to Tim Walker, who provides the seed and monitors birds there. They must have had a pretty OK breeding season, just as the Tree Sparrows did at Jay House lane.

Waxwings in Brighouse

Here is a short film of waxwings in Brighouse today.

Filmed by Chris Burns. LINK to film

Fungi at Newt Corner, Cromwell Bottom

Here are a couple of fungi seen at Newt Corner, Cromwell Bottom on Saturday 15th Dec 2012

This Bracket was smooth underneath.

Possibly Artist's Bracket, Ganoderma applanatum. 

Jelly Ear

Auricularia auricula-judae ?

The palest I have ever seen

(can you see the cat)?

Frost melts

But while it lasted, Michael went out with his camera.

Blake Dean was transformed into a winter wonderland.

Saturday's Walk (15th Dec.)

We intend to meet at the appointed place as on the Programme Card, (Membership Card), but vary the route.

Instead of going up Stoodley Glen again, it's proposed that we go up Jumble Hole Clough, nearby, on the opposite side of Calder Valley.

The reason for this is to see the spot at which the rare fungus Violet Coral Clavaria zollingeri has appeared. The only known site in Calderdale is at the top of Jumble Hole Clough, and the only person who knows the spot is Michael, so he is going to show some of us and maybe we can get a GPS fix on it. It probably won't be showing at this time of year, and may not appear every year.

This is a monthly walk and is open to all.

The plan is to meet Michael at the top as he's not up to the walk from the valley bottom at the moment, then go on to the New Delight at Jack Bridge at Colden for a pub lunch.

Meet as per the card 10.30 for 10.45 at Eastwood Cricket Ground on the main Hebden Bridge to Todmorden Road.

Meet Michael at the top (near Hippins House) at 12.00, after making our way up, botanising, fungus foraying and bird watching.

Feel free to meet up at either venue.

Xmas Social Tonight

Among the usual attractions of artifacts and books etc. from our library to look at, there will be a couple of really interesting dead birds on display, found recently in Calderdale :-

The Common Scoter found by Andy Cockroft at Baitings reservoir. (It's been in a freezer.)
And the Great Grey Shrike that was picked up near a window in Southowrham with its prey, a headless Blue Tit.

The Xmas Social  consists of conversation over tea/coffee and cakes. Bring cakes etc to share. Drinks provided.

Downstairs at the Central Library, Halifax 7.15 to 9.00. (No formal Business tonight.)
All welcome.

Today's Mammals

Ogden Res nr Giants Tooth: immature male Roe Deer.
Soil Hill, old Pottery end of Coal Lane: Weasel. Although the latter was seen well  it was just too mobile for a photo.

Results of the AGM and the fate of the Library

Fifteen attended; not an unexpectedly low number for a November meeting on a cold night and considering it was the AGM.
    Dr Paul Ruffle of Jodrell Bank and Manchester University was elected President. He lives at Mytholmroyd. Two other people were elected new members.
All the other existing officers and recorders accepted nomination and were re-elected.
   We looked at about 50 slides from Frank Murgatroyd's collection of about 1500!
I had found some pictures of past members as well as orchids of Britain; views in Calderdale, Cumbria and Wales; historic buildings in Calderdale; fungi and ferns. Just some of the many things represented in Frank's collection of slides.
                                           __________________________________

The following night, Wednesday, I went to shout at the demonstration outside the Town Hall against the library demolition. I even got a ticket to go in and witness the full Council Meeting. The public area was full.
Unfortunately, as expected, the minute "to relocate the library in a new building adjacent to the bottom edge of the Piece Hall, next to Square Chapel" was passed. ( Not the official wording.) Several Councillors spoke passionately in favour of renovating the existing building, to loud applause and cheers from the public and other councillors, but to no avail. There was feeble applause for those speaking in favour of demolition - they knew they had the majority.

This could take many years to take place. (The Broad Street Development took 20!) And the Economic situation could change or some other factor come in to delay or alter the decision.

The proponents of the scheme think they have given the opponents a big consession by saying the lending library and the archives will now be kept together in the same building, and not seperated, as once proposed, but they are completely  vague about the archives. They never refer to the 3 collections: the Archives of Halifax in the Reference Library; the books/archives of Halifax Antiquarians, and last but not least, the archives and books of Halifax Scientific Society. Apparently one councillor looked at our book cases and assumed these was the whole of the the three collections!
The Library Archivist told me there are over 3,000,000 items in their collection alone, on the top floor of the library.

Anyway, many of us may not see it happen. We must be stoical and keep on meeting, recording and reporting on scientific subjects including Natural History while keeping our options open about the future. We survived a major upheaval in the early 1980s when our predecessors moved everything down from the old Central Library at Belle Vue near Peoples Park. We can survive this as well.
Steve Blacksmith, Chair.

The Halifax Scientific Society A.G.M - Reminder

Our Annual General meeting will be held at the Halifax Central Library this Tuesday the 27th of November 2012 at 7:15 pm

All Welcome

Pictures from the HSS monthly walk on Sat. 17th

Looking East from Pudsey Clough towards Todmorden. Stoodley Pike just visible. 

All pictures of Pudsey Clough

Viburnum bodnantense in its November glory. Flowers all winter 

and has a gorgeous scent. This is at Back Rough Farm, by the track.

A waterfall, name unknown, and a Wych Elm, not yet leafless.

Winter sun.

Not many birds about, but Raven seen well and its "pruck pruck" call heard; nuthatch down here in the valley. I  found a singing male Ring Ouzel up by the quarry once in spring.  It's the most mountainous corner of Calderdale.
The stream was strongly coloured with peat as it poured through the cylindrical stone culvert under the quarry track. This is a rare type of construction in the Pennine Hills .Only 2 people on the walk.

A big Waxwing winter ?

Ten are feeding at Brighouse, in Sainsbury's car park. I'm just going along there now.
Watch out for them on any berried trees and shrubs. They especially like urban plantings.

UPDATE: Still there Tuesday morning 19th Nov. according to a text from Dave Sutcliffe.

Saturday's Walk

Pudsey Clough is at the furthest western edge of Calderdale.

If anyone is daunted by the distance and would like a lift, there will be pick-up points outside the Central Library in Halifax, and Russel Dean's Car Park in Mytholmroyd.

Ring me on 01422 348222 or mobile 0771 500 5379 to arrange lifts.

We will be walking only about 3 miles exploring the deep cloughs always on paths, some slighty wet and slippy, and some steep.

There will be opportunities to foray for fungi, view the unusual goeology in the form of steep cliffs and dramatic rock outcrops, and see the woods of native trees, where I have seen Spotted Flycatcher nesting. There may be wintering as well as native birds about. Part of the way takes us out on to the open tops, as far as Burnley Old Road (Long Causeway) and back down to Cornholme.

Bring a packed lunch and something damp-proof to sit on. Meet on the Burnley Rd. at 10.30 for a 10.45 start.

Goldcrest

Not a rare bird but the first record for my house today

Waxwings

Waxwings are now well into the country and several have been seen locally, so keep your eyes and ears open. It may be a bumper year here this winter as their food sources in Scandinavia have been very poor.

The Future for the Halifax Scientific Society

Re my previous post (below) There is a long response on the Courier Website to the front page news in the Courier last Friday.

It's from  Anne Kirker, Secretary of Halifax Antiquarian Society, with whom we share the meeting rooms at the Central Library.

She is leading the DBOL Campaign - "Don't bulldoze our library". they have a website but when I searched I just got a site selling performance enhancing drugs for athletes.

I did find it by searching for " Calderdale don't bulldoze our Library."

She writes a long and very well reasoned argument against the way the survey was done for the Council by IPSOS Mori about their plans to knock down the Central Library.

If you can't find it, or don't have time to read it all, can I pick out her closing paragraph, and second her suggestions.

“For the rest of us, our only way of influencing proceedings will be to go to the Cabinet Meeting on 12 November and the full council meeting on 28 November and make our views known. And in the meantime, we can write to our own councillors urging them to stop this madness.”

I will certainly be going along.

I have written to my three Local Councillors, plus two I know of in other wards and Halifax's MP Linda Riordan (Her email is riordanl@parliament.uk)

You can get your Councillors' emails off the Calderdale Council Website.

In other parts of England, Councils have been reported to the Local Government Ombudsman for failing to comply with their statutory duties to provide adequate library facilities, and are under judicial review. (Somerset is one I heard of.)

Bad News from Calderdale Council

Front Page of the Courier last night.

Even though we have had our library in the lecture rooms since the current library was built, having moved it from the first Central Library, at Lister Lane near People's Park, and despite representations to them, they have announced that the library is to close and be replaced with a new building below the Piece Hall.

We still don't know if there will be accommodation for our books in the new library.

The Halifax Antiquarian Society has been similarly ignored.

We have been very generously offered a meeting room at Dean Clough, if we need it, but not space for our books. Meeting there would not be without its problems for members who come in by bus.

New Autumn Crocus Site

Had a hunch there might be some in St John's Churchyard, Rishworth and there are ! Just five blooms today, closed up. They're at the base of a small Rowan tree on the right of the path going up to the church from the bottom entrance on Godley Lane. SE034179

There are also some in St. John's Churchyard, Bradshaw.

 

Ryburn Valley is one of the richest areas for the plant, with currently 14 sites, three of which have not been refound, though one of these was reported recently without exact directions.

It's said in the records to be "In a field adjacent to Goat House." This is apparently attached to the Royal Pub. (now Malt House?) But I havn't been able to get into a field adjacent.

There is a lower Goat House on the bottom side of the Oldham Rd.but I don't think this is the house.  I could be wrong.

Fungus Blog

There are now some photos on the Fungus Blog of the fungi, etc. found last Saturday on the foray to Stoodley Glen.

From Fungus the Bloggyman.

Ash Die-Back disease

Ash die-back, Chalara fraxinea, is a serious disease of Ash trees. It has spread all over Europe and one scientist has suggested that our country could be the only one in the whole of Europe with any Ash trees remaining. This is providing we keep the disease out, yet it has just been found in a wildlife trust wood in Norfolk where the disease has killed many coppice stools.

It is essential to stop imports of ash saplings from Europe but our government is still 'consulting'. In the meantime the fears are it is only a matter of time before we have a devastation worse than Dutch Elm disease.

Mushrooms.

Can anybody recommend to me a book on identifying fungi with a view to maybe collecting some edible ones and possibly even developing a deeper interest them.

Thanks.

Yellow Greenfly

This eight of an inch long yellow (greenfly?) crawled across my book pages as I was reading. A lovely colour but not one I've seen before. Does anyone know what it is?

Autumn Leaves

The Environment Agency is advising local authorities they should no longer compost street and highway leaves but instead send them all to landfill. The story is the leaves may be contiminated by oil residues.
I wonder what has changed? Leaves have always fallen from trees and the motor car is above a hundred years old.

Fungus Foray Report and details for a follow-up.

 

 

FUNGUS FORAY 13.10.12

 

Wade Wood, the Luddenden Brook

Unidentified, marble-sized

Laccaria amethystina, Amethyst Deceiver.

"Deceiver" because it's in a tricky group. Said to be edible but I've not eaten it.

 

 

A very scalloped form of Birch Polypore, maybe a different species. Inedible but found in the pack carried by 5,300 year-old ice mummy  named "Otzi" found in 1991 in the European Alps. May have been valued as an anti-biotic, or can be used to sharpen blades. Also known as Razorstrop Fungus.

 

 

Upper and lower surfaces of Artist's Bracket. Ganoderma applanatum. The white undersurface scratches to create a dark brown line - said to have been used for sketching purposes.

Tree Ear or Jelly Ear, Auricularia auricula-judae. Used to be said to be confined to Elder, but on finding it on several different species of tree and talking with Professor Roy Watling, he informed me it is under review and may be split into different species. Edible  -  I was first served it in a Thai restuarant in France. I once ate too much of it at home and got a very uncomfortable bloated feeling in my stomach.

 A small species of Ink Cap, Coprinus.

Common Ink Cap has been used to treat alcoholism.

 

With many thanks to Linda for all these photos and several others.

 

 

_____________________________________________________________

 

 

FOLLOW - UP FORAY TO STOODLEY GLEN

 

European Brown-bear - Ewan Chesser photo

 

 

 

There will be a follow-up to the Wildside Fungus Foray (above).

It will be on Saturday 27th October. Meet 10.30 for a 10.45 start. Bring packed lunch.

Meet at Eastwood Cricket Club on the main A646 road between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden.
Parking is OK on the main road overlooking the cricket ground, but take care - it's a 40 limit and some drivers speed a lot faster than that. SD965252

It is served by buses, such as the Todmorden and Burnley services.

Meet at the junction - marked "Stoodley Glen". We will be taking the track up Stoodley Glen.
If  the weather is good we might go over the top and down into the valley bottom at Mytholmroyd, where a bus can take us back along the main road to the cars. People can retrace their steps if they want to leave early.

At the top of the wooded glen, the path goes through classic unimproved grassland with a good selection of grassland fungi including,  last year,  pink waxcap and hare's ear. I have occasionally seen actual hares up there, and there are some of the few local wild crabapple trees. It will be interesting to see if  they have suffered from the cold spring like the garden apples and crabapples.

There are, interestingly enough, crabapples just over the watershed in Broadhead Clough, though these are not possible to get to, as Yorkshire Wildlife Trust requests we stay on the footpaths in the reserve.

It's a puzzle why these relict trees don't regenerate any longer. I have my theory it's because there are no longer any wild mammals that would eat the fruit and deposit their seeds with their dung on soil where the turf was broken through by their piggy hoofs/ bears paws.  Of course sheep nibble off seedlings as well.

Get a glimpse back into the MIddle Ages as well as a fungus foray!

Phone or text ahead mobile 0771 500 5379 (Steve) or simply turn up. Small donations to Halifax Scientific Society gratefully received.

Autumn leaves or twigs?

One of our mature Oak trees never sheds any leaves in Autumn but instead sheds them complete with whole twigs, some up to 2 foot long. I notice this year another Oak which normally only sheds leaves, has this Autumn decided to get rid of the whole twiglets as well. No leaves fall on their own without the accompanying twig,

This seems to be a genetic response, perhaps to growing conditions/weather and is a kind of self-pruning to keep the nutrient uptake in balance with the growth.

The twigs are not snapped but are shed by the tree in the same way as leaves are; that is by the abscision layer of cells that 'cut' the twig from the tree. I am not aware of species other than Oak which do this but would be interested to know if others have seen this. On the photos you will see the rim and the neat abscision at the end of the twig. The convex end fits neatly into the cup left on the tree branch.

 

 

Aurora Possibilities Tonight 14 10 12

There might be a chance to see Aurora borealis, Northern Lights tonight,we need Amber or Red Aurora Alerts from Aurora Watch Uk to be with any chance of seeing them locally,there is already Yellow Alert so hopefully it might build up later tonight Midnight to early hours ! i will update this blog later on if we get Amber/Red Alerts,and of course clear skies.we need to be up on the tops away from the Orange glow of towns and Citys,easier said then done locally,and should be looking North if unsure of the direction if the Plough Constellation is roughly where you are looking that is the right spot,it can start off as a very faint Green glow,but, it can suddenly change,anyone wanting to have a go at photographing them ,basically a DSLR is the best bet with a fast Wide Angle Lens set to its lowest f number f1.8 or so set to infinity on manual, and 25 or 30second shutter speeds at iso 400  or higher,and a Tripod .regards Brian.

RSPB Golden opportunity to crack bird of prey persecution, before it's too late

As the Hen Harrier teeters on the brink of extinction as a breeding bird in England, Coalition and Welsh Government Ministers have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tackle the illegal killing of birds of prey in England and Wales, and must not waste it. That's the message from the RSPB as it publishes its annual wildlife crime figures showing yet another shameful year of poisoning, shooting and trapping for Red Kites, Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Goshawks and other persecuted species. Just one pair of Hen Harriers bred in England in 2012, with Government's own studies suggesting that illegal killing is the major factor in their decline.  See more of this report.

Please sign this petition here now before it's too late. We need 100,000 signatures before the government has to take notice, we have to date under 11,000 and it has taken almost a year to get that far!

The RSPB aren't pushing this, or have I missed something? I won't say what I think! 

It is therefore up to us to act now. sign this petition here we have only a few weeks left to sign.

Tomorrow - 2nd Crocus Sweep

The next scheduled walk is Saturday ( see Bruce's Post, below - meet Jerusalem Farm.)

 

But before that, tomorrow, Friday 12th, there is another  crocus sweep, to drive round a set of sites to check how the autumn crocus are doing this year. Some walking will be required. One slope is steep.

 

The intention is to go to two sites in the Luddenden Dean area, maybe more. Bring a packed lunch.

 

 We’re meeting at County Bridge, in the town of Sowerby Bridge, just outside Halifax.  It’s the main A58 bridge across the River Calder. There’s free street parking to be had around there, and several buses.

If using sat. nav. a postcode nearby is HX6 2QD.

Map ref. SE 059 235 (approx.)

You will see a betting shop – we ( or I ) will be on the opposite side of the road, on the bridge on foot. ( I have white hair and a blue backpack.)

See you about 10.30 to 10.45, hopefully. My mobile if you get held up is 0771 500 5379.

Walk Reminder - Saturday 13th October

The next walk is Saturday October the 13th. A fungus Foray to Wade Wood (Jerusalem Farm). Part of the Calderdale Wildside Walks. Meet at Car Park, Jerry Farm SE036278 at 10:15 am Map

Northern Lights Aurora borealis nr Bridestones Todmorden,09 10 12

Been trying to see the Northern Lights in Calderdale for a few years now and it finally happened late last night,i get Aurora Alerts from Aurora Watch Lancs,but its always been cloudy or tipping down,but last night although foggy down in the valley bottom i could see stars through the wispy fog,amber alert was forecast at 2330 so i thought if i didnt see the Aurora i might see the Meteor Shower happening,all a bit rushed i headed for the road near Bridestones,i could see a faint arc of Green,which intensified at about 0115 with  moving curtains left and right of the main arc it was FANTASTIC,pot luck with camera as was trying to set it up in darkness in a rush !hence the bright annoying house light to the right,thought id taken 14 pics but hadnt taken any and just managed to salvage these few shots ! hopefully be more prepared next time they appear !! regards Brian.

Seen This am in Triangle

Autumn Crocus,  Ryburn Valley

Autumn Crocus,  Triangle

These were seen in Triangle by Michael Sykes.

Thanks for the pictures Michael.

Leotica lubrica.  Triangle

Laccaria amythistina.   Ryburn Valley

Autumn crocus

There is just one Autumn crocus in flower in Tod park near the bandstand, although others may yet appear from those that were transplanted from the mown grass area a couple of years ago.

Are these spangle galls on this oak leaf? I hadn't realised how hairy they are.

Rosa rugosa hips are wonderful for butterflies and in this case green bottle flies. I think it is the fermenting juice they are after

Jays, Acorns and tree news

There are reports in the national papers of a lack of acorns, forcing jays to forage in gardens. There are lots of acorns in our wood in Tod but I have never seen them eaten as voraciously by grey squirrels as this year. Every tree has mounds of left-over bits of acorns and a squirrel in each tree. I don't think the jays (and we have a few) are getting much of a look-in. I have also noticed all the squirrels look very scraggy and undernourished and seem desperate for the acorn bounty.

For the first time, squrrels have stripped all the bark on the upper branches of the mature sycamores at the rear of Todmorden Hall and all the tops are now an unsightly brown of dead foliage.

Hawthorns everywhere I go are looking very sick this year, with die-back and many without any leaves since spring. Rowan are the same, birches with frizzled leaves, elder bushes losing leaves and many dying.

There is a Chalara fungal disease on imported ash trees and the government is so worried it may be about to ban imported ash saplings. The Netherlands have lost 90% of their mature Ash trees to this disease and same could happen in this country. I can't imagine why we import Ash as they grow like weeds here.
http://britishecologicalsociety.org/blog/blog/tag/chalara-fraxinea/

OK to eat?

These fungi keep popping up each year at the base of a wood pile on my allotment. The bluish green colour is quite noticeable. The top ones are each a couple of inches across - anybody know what they are?

Autumn Crocus Sweep results.

.

Crocus nudiflorus

 

We visited 9 sites. Most of which held good quantities, but mostly flattened by the wind and rain:
Dean Lane
Deerplay Farm ( none found - never been refound here recently.)
Kebroyd river bank (Grassy Bottom)
Turn Lee House, Cottonstones.
Dog Kennel Lane (near Turn Lee House) - none showing here - everything bitten well off by Texel sheep.
Shaw Edge Pasture, Soyland
Soyland - top of Foxen Lane
Upper Cockroft House, Rishworth
Still no clue where Goat House is, where a colony is said to bloom each year. Must research it at the library. Think the house has been renamed.

There is still about 2 weeks of the flowering period remaining this year.

The owner of Turn Lee House was happy as usual to let us in his garden, (there were 3 of us.) where we were able to see the crocus blooming alongside the misnamed "Autumn Crocus", Colchicum autumnale, the one in the lily family with the lily's 6 stamens unlike the crocus's 3.
He showed one of our party inside his house to see the timbers which go back to wattle and daub construction times. The crocus is often associated with these mediaeval houses.

In the Halifax (Copley) area on the Calder banks at the Junior Sports Field, among the young oaks, there were plenty in the usual spots, but no blooms in the area where much crocus foliage comes up in spring, east of the flowering colonies.

You see this also at Kebroyd, where there is a non-flowering colony 60 paces downstream from the footbridge, on the edge of the Ryburn. (The main patches are up stream, under beeches and other trees, on the left bank, just below the weir. - left bank looking down stream.)
.
We kept a bird list for the trip: Grey wagtail, pied wagtail, dipper, goosander, kestrel and kingfisher being among them.

Clouded agaric

 

Fungi seen included a spectacular colony of clouded agaric, a broad dryad's saddle, a few amethyst deceiver and turkeytail.
Scientific names: Clitocybe nebularis, Polyporus squamosus, Laccaria amethystina, and Trametes versicolor.

Guitarist Brian May to front rally against badger cull

Queen guitarist Brian May is to front a public rally in Bristol against a cull of badgers in the West Country.

Picture AP

The Stop the Cull rally took place earlier at College Green.  (BBC News Story)

More of this story...

Taken yesterday near Gibson Mill

This series of pictures were taken by Michael Sykes. They are from Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge.

Amanita citrina

Froth on the water

Laccaria amethystina

Lycoperdon pyriforme

Peltigera cannina (dog lichen)

Autumnal sun

Gibson Mill top dam