Egg Collector

Keep your eyes open for this fellow.
Terrence Potter from West Yorkshire.
He is a convicted egg collector and you may well see him on your travels. This follows an earlier report on the Bird Blog - we now have his picture.

Link to report and picture here.

The new HS2 rail link and the habitats it will effect!The Wildlife Trusts HS2 report

Help Save The Bees

Bees around the world are dying off and Europe’s food watchdog just said certain pesticides are part of the problem. We’ve got 48 hours before key meetings -- let’s get a 2-million-person swarm to save the bees.Click below to take urgent action now: 

Please sign this petition  HERE   to help save the worlds bees.

Green Woodpecker

One was calling a little in the oakwood below Albert Promenade as I walked up Woodhouse Lane yesterday at dusk.

Heralds in Bare Head tunnel.

Some of the nooks and crannies in the tunnel go back further than arm's length making it impossible to get close to some of the moths with the camera so I was quite happy with this image on full zoom.

The pair below were hibernating above our heads on the ceiling at around 7 feet up.

Meet the Boss!

This is a resident Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata, that lives with a raft of  Mallards. It is a feisty male, that fights for it's share of food, that is usually thrown over by local residents. It has a great personality and definitely thinks he's the ring leader, I just wish he could find a suitable partner. It can be seen on Cragg Brook, below the foot bridge, between The Shoulder of Mutton and Streamside Close, Mytholmroyd, on most days. 

A Tissue,...Triphosa dubitata

I found this today in Bare Head tunnel ,at the top of Shibden Valley,It over winters as an adult in tunnels and caves and this is the first time it has been recorded in calderdale since the early part of last century...also in the tunnel were 12 Herald moths(below).Click on image for a better view..... ,

Help with fungus id

I came across these beauties while walking through Lumbutts Clough this morning but I have no idea what they are. Any help appreciated - thanks.

First Bumble Bee out and skeins of Pink Footed Geese

Charlie Streets reports a bumble bee out on his allotment at Skircoat Green.

Also a massive movement of Pink Footed Geese overhead. All day yesterday and also last Thursday and Friday. As they are mostly going west I think - it's a guess - they are being disturbed on their Norfolk feeding grounds (arable fields) possibly by ploughing or maybe shooting, and are going over to the Lancashire plain for some peace.

First Snowdrop

They say it is about 10C outside and it feels very mild. It's not near any artificial heat source like a house -
Kensington Rd. Halifax.