Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Fallow Deer
I saw these 5 Fallow Deer today at Bingley. Obviously a wild population as they all jumped over the wall and away.
Monday, 29 May 2017
Joys of Nest Recording
Rare birds are few and far between, but while nest recording you can sometimes get a rare view into the biology of a common bird, like these two newly-hatched Woodpigeons at Todmorden on 28th May. Their nest was so low I just walked up to it to get this picture. We found another Woodpigeon nest nearby, a little higher up in a hawthorn, and earlier that day we had recorded a Wren's nest with eggs and a Kestrel's with at least three downy white chicks with their eyes open. All details to go on BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) Nest Record Cards, and all monitoring is carried out to BTO procedure to avoid causing desertion of nests.
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Bumblebee Survey Training
On May 24th Charlotte Weightman and I attended a 'Bumblebee Survey Training' workshop led by Moors for the Future's Tom Aspinall (Community Science Project Officer) and Joe Margetts (Community Science Communication and Engagement Officer). The workshop took place at the Todmorden Community Resource Centre.
First we were given a brief outline of the importance of blanket bogs; pollution caused by the Industrial Revolution stripped the moors of sphagnum moss, reducing their capacity for water retention, resulting in the erosion of the peat so vital for the health of the moorland. A 2005 photograph taken at Black Hill, in the Peak District National Park, shows a bleak and barren landscape, but in the space of a mere 6 years, after treatment with heather brash, seeding and the application of 3/4 million sphagnum fragments, the landscape is now lush with cotton grass, heather and sphagnum moss. And a healthy habitat of course draws many species of birds, insects and mammals.
Our concern today was with the Bumblebee, whose numbers have declined through loss of habitat. To make identification simple, we were given only 3 target species: the Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola), the Red-Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) although we did touch on a number of other species - Early, White-tailed, Buff-tailed, Garden, Heath and Common Carder.
The talk was fascinating and informative; we learned, for example, that with climate change the southerly bees are moving northwards, but those already resident in the north are not moving north but remaining, meaning that the bee population is becoming more concentrated at a certain latitude. We also learned that Bumblebees have the longest tongues of all bees and are therefore able to pollinate more plants than other bees. We were all amazed to learn that Bumblebees travel at average speeds of 30mph even when fully laden with pollen! They are also able to fly in perfectly straight lines ('bee-lines'!) in 30mph winds. One truly fascinating fact is that a Bumblebee can disengage its wing muscles in order to raise its body temperature quickly; on cold Spring mornings this tactic enables the bee to get going and pollinate plants long before other insects have warmed up enough to do so!
After lunch we were taken into the Community Centre's garden and shown a nesting box where a colony of bees had taken up residence. We then went to one of Incredible Edible's gardens in the grounds of the Health Centre to try out our identifying skills. At that point, it had grown a little cool and windy so we did not see as many bees as we had hoped, but we were still able to find a number of Early Bumblebees and 3 other species - Tree, Common Carder and Garden Bumblebees. We also visited Tipside, an area adjacent to the Market and Bus Station, that has been developed by TRIG (Todmorden Riverside Improvement Group) as a biodiverse space for wildlife. It holds many bee-friendly plant species such as Comfrey, Ragged Robin and Cuckoo Flower.
Our thanks go to Tom and Joe for a truly enjoyable and enlightening day.
A PDF version of the talk is downloadable here:
http://www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/sites/default/files/csp/CSP_TM_Bumblebee_Training_Presentation_2016.pdf
If you think you would like to volunteer and walk a transept route to find out how our bees are faring, you can find out more by emailing:
moorcitizens@peakdistrict.gov.uk
or by visiting the website:
www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/community-science
First we were given a brief outline of the importance of blanket bogs; pollution caused by the Industrial Revolution stripped the moors of sphagnum moss, reducing their capacity for water retention, resulting in the erosion of the peat so vital for the health of the moorland. A 2005 photograph taken at Black Hill, in the Peak District National Park, shows a bleak and barren landscape, but in the space of a mere 6 years, after treatment with heather brash, seeding and the application of 3/4 million sphagnum fragments, the landscape is now lush with cotton grass, heather and sphagnum moss. And a healthy habitat of course draws many species of birds, insects and mammals.
Our concern today was with the Bumblebee, whose numbers have declined through loss of habitat. To make identification simple, we were given only 3 target species: the Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola), the Red-Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) although we did touch on a number of other species - Early, White-tailed, Buff-tailed, Garden, Heath and Common Carder.
The talk was fascinating and informative; we learned, for example, that with climate change the southerly bees are moving northwards, but those already resident in the north are not moving north but remaining, meaning that the bee population is becoming more concentrated at a certain latitude. We also learned that Bumblebees have the longest tongues of all bees and are therefore able to pollinate more plants than other bees. We were all amazed to learn that Bumblebees travel at average speeds of 30mph even when fully laden with pollen! They are also able to fly in perfectly straight lines ('bee-lines'!) in 30mph winds. One truly fascinating fact is that a Bumblebee can disengage its wing muscles in order to raise its body temperature quickly; on cold Spring mornings this tactic enables the bee to get going and pollinate plants long before other insects have warmed up enough to do so!
After lunch we were taken into the Community Centre's garden and shown a nesting box where a colony of bees had taken up residence. We then went to one of Incredible Edible's gardens in the grounds of the Health Centre to try out our identifying skills. At that point, it had grown a little cool and windy so we did not see as many bees as we had hoped, but we were still able to find a number of Early Bumblebees and 3 other species - Tree, Common Carder and Garden Bumblebees. We also visited Tipside, an area adjacent to the Market and Bus Station, that has been developed by TRIG (Todmorden Riverside Improvement Group) as a biodiverse space for wildlife. It holds many bee-friendly plant species such as Comfrey, Ragged Robin and Cuckoo Flower.
Our thanks go to Tom and Joe for a truly enjoyable and enlightening day.
A PDF version of the talk is downloadable here:
http://www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/sites/default/files/csp/CSP_TM_Bumblebee_Training_Presentation_2016.pdf
If you think you would like to volunteer and walk a transept route to find out how our bees are faring, you can find out more by emailing:
moorcitizens@peakdistrict.gov.uk
or by visiting the website:
www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/community-science
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Saturday, 20 May 2017
Today's walk - Soyland's Green Lanes
Eleven of us plus the very cheerful and enthusiastic Meg the dog went on today's walk which was a mixture of green lanes, woods, pasture and country roads, walking the paths which folk would have taken many years ago to go to and from the mills near Mill Bank and Kebroyd up to the 18th century textile entrepreneur Sam Hill's Making Place Hall in Soyland. We saw a variety of things - including a bumblebee's nest which had been disturbed; an English Oak (Quercus robur) which is a rare find in Calderdale; a Marsh Harrier being mobbed by crows; the wonderfully named Pick-a-back plant (Tolmiea menziessi) on the river side; a deer bounding over a meadow; Changing Forget-me-Not; different walling styles and scratchings of vegetation by a badger. Peachysteve taught us how to recognise Broad Buckler Fern easily and showed us fascinating aspects of specific trees. Everyone added to the mix of knowledge and of friendship and it was lovely to see new faces join us! And the rain came only at the very end of the walk!
Friday, 19 May 2017
Smith's Medlar
The hybrid between a Medlar and Midland Hawthorn is in full flower in Todmorden Park. Known as xCrataemespilus grandiflora, it was originally referred to as Smith's Medlar in the early 19th C. James Edward Smith was a botanist and founder of the Linnean Society. It was he who managed to buy Linnaeus' herbarium from his widow, which is a bit of a story in itself and the King of Sweden was not best pleased.
It is a most unusual large bush and I haven't come across the hybrid anywhere else. I believe it to be a bit of a rarity. I have yet to see it produce any berries.
It is a most unusual large bush and I haven't come across the hybrid anywhere else. I believe it to be a bit of a rarity. I have yet to see it produce any berries.
Friday, 12 May 2017
Spring drought exposes casual war on trees
This exceptional dry weather has put many trees under stress. I have noticed in particular some Beech and Sycamore are reluctant to open their buds.
On this note, I have never quite understood why the grass under mature trees in parkland or wide verges is either sprayed off or mown to death. It exposes the tree roots to desert like conditions.
With this drought and drying easterly winds it is important the rooting environment is looked after. Why waste money and risk the health of mature trees?
Long grass keeps tree roots moist.
On this note, I have never quite understood why the grass under mature trees in parkland or wide verges is either sprayed off or mown to death. It exposes the tree roots to desert like conditions.
With this drought and drying easterly winds it is important the rooting environment is looked after. Why waste money and risk the health of mature trees?
Long grass keeps tree roots moist.
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Our May indoor meeting and talk - Tuesday 9th May
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Re the walk on 6th May; due to a mild winter the daffodils have all finished blooming, but we will look at their leaves and see if they have set seed. Also we have a stock of them multiplied from one single bulb unearthed on the hillside when some cows got in, so we will be doing a bit of practical conservation by replacing this stock of bulbs. You can help if you come along. I'll have some trowels. (And a photo of the native daffodil flowers.)
Tuesday, 2 May 2017
Bumblebee Survey Training - 24th May
This event is aimed at beginners or those who have attended training in previous years who would like to refresh their knowledge and skills.
For more information please contact moorcitizens@peakdistrict.gov.uk
Date and Time
Wed 24
May 2017
11:00 –
15:30 BST
Location
Todmorden Community Resource Centre, Lever Street Todmorden OL14 5QF
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