Harlequin Ladybird

Michael Sykes found this Harlequin Ladybird last month on a rose in his garden and has sent the record off to the Ladybird survey site- LINK HERE

Harmonia axyridis. 

Purple Small-Reed. New to Calderdale?

Walking the canal towpath this afternoon at Walsden, I saw a tall grass which I haven't seen before in Calderdale; in fact the last time I saw it in the wild was at the SSSI at Leven Canal near the river Hull, East Yorks.

This Purple Small-Reed, Calamagrostis canescens at Walsden must have been there a while as it has covered a large area with its rhizomatous roots. It is a lovely grass with its long purplish flower heads and is dominating the vegetation, as seen in the photo.

Can anyone say if this grass has any local records? I wonder how it got to Walsden?

Mowing verges

To follow on from Bruce's post about wild flower verges, we might see lots of grass flowers such as this Crested Dogs Tail. So colourful now the anthers are showing.

Council grass cutting ban to protect bees is planned

The "Telegraph" reports that Councils are to be banned from cutting grass verges in the early summer and developers will be forced to put in place new nesting sites for bees when they demolish buildings. These plans are being considered by the Government to increase insect numbers.

More on this... 

North Hollingworth 27-06-13

Michael Sykes and myself had a walk near North Hollingworth this morning before the rain came. The Cotton Grass looked fantastic swaying in the breeze and there so many beautiful little flowering plants and lichens to see too, and Michael managed to capture these specimens we found brilliantly.

Cup Lichen (Cladonia coccifera).

Common Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium).

Hare's Tail Cotton Grass (Eriophorum vaginatum).

Bee Orchid...

Large Skipper

First Large Skipper, female, seen today at Sunnybank Todmorden. I think it was newly emerged as it rested on Cirsium rivulare and let me get close without flying off.

Cromwell Bottom 20-06-13

Michael and I found a few of these Common Spotted Orchids today, nearly in full bloom.

Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Michael's photograph.

Wildlife Walk at Cromwell Bottom

Solstice walk - tomorrow Friday 21st. Meet in the car park opposite the pallet works behind Cromwell House and join the members of the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group for an informative walk around the Local Nature Reserve looking at the abundance of seasonal wildlife and flowers. 

No charge, but donations to the Wildlife Group welcome. Insect repellent essential.

Event time: 7 pm - 9 pm

Venue:   Cromwell Bottom, Park Rd

All welcome

Cromwell Bottom 16-06-13

Michael found these specimens today.

Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus).

Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa).

A pretty pink Rose (Rosa).

Nettle Clustercup Rust (Puccinia urticata).

Fallow Deer ??

Got a glimpse of this Fallow Deer just outside Calderdale  on the Bradford yesterday , do we get fallow deer in Calderdale, I don't think I've ever seen one.?? 

Withens Clough 09-06-13

Michael Sykes found this young Butterwort today.

Withens Clough, 1st June 2013

A belated post from last Saturday (sorry!).  On a circular walk around Withens Clough and skirting Turley Holes and Higher House Moor, I saw a couple of wimberry bumblebees (Bombus monticola) on Turley Holes Edge and near Higher House Barn was a single green hairstreak and two impressive looking green tiger beetles.

Lumbutts Clough

At last Spring has arrived properly in the Upper Calder Valley. The apple tree in our garden has blossom now, the bluebells are in full flower and the wild garlic is bursting with flowers and aroma. The smell of the wild garlic as you walk through Lumbutts Clough really has to be experienced.

Orange Tip on wild garlic (sounds like a recipe!)

Our House Martins have arrived back at their nest on the side of the house at long last. There were so few for most of April and May I was worried that there had been a mass boycott for some reason.

My First Speckled Wood

Things are really slow this year.

From Nigel via Denise - Spotted Fly Catcher are finally back in Ogden Plantation.

Also Denise saw some Green Hairstreak butterflies at Ogden, unfortunately no pictures, they were too flighty.

Speckled Wood butterfly today

And we had our first Speckled Wood butterfly today in Holmfield, Calderdale, West Yorkshire.

Swan Mussels ? Rochdale Canal 02 06 13

Whilst walking along the Rochdale Canal Towpath, Noticed quite a few of these Freshwater Mussels as the water level was right down, near to Todmorden Town Centre yesterday,size two and half to 3 inches long aprox ,wonder if they are Swan Mussels ? never seen them before,but would be easy to miss, especially when Canals at normal level.Bri.

Beetle

Continuing from Phillips beetle post, Oliver and I found this beetle on the 20/05/13 in Hardcastle Crags, crawling over a mossy log. It had a lovely metallic blue trim on the edge of it's body and legs and it was approximately one centimeter in length.

Phoenix Tree

There is this fallen Beech at Blake Dean and it has managed to survive because its root plate was still partially in the ground. It has produced 2 new upright trunks partway down the stem. The whole tree is on the ground with another new stem growing from the end of its trunk, many yards away. Always give a fallen tree chance to grow again and do not be in a hurry to saw it up.

Is this a Bloody-Nosed Beetle?

I saw this beetle this morning near Blake Dean. It was on this loose bare area of grit, with heathy vegetation round it. Sunny but windy.
I'm not certain it is a bloody-nosed beetle, as all the references say it is found in Southern England. Can anyone identify it?

 

Also this Green Tiger Beetle seen a few yards away.

 

 

Shield Bugs

If anyone has any old records or photographs of any Shield bugs taken in Calderdale or see any this year and get a good photo, I would be very grateful if they pass the information on to me, Regards Andy

Billberry Shield Bug ,there are only 3 British records of this species one was taken from the Bradford/Halifax  Moors in the late 1800's. It may well be still present.??

Hidden Secrets in the Heather !!

Walking on the many paths criss crossing our uplands ,and coming across one of the many Emperor Moth Cocoons spun to the Heather.On first inspection everything seems ok,but when looking more closely at the Cocoon, a small barely noticeable Hole on the side reveals that all is not quite as it seems ! An Emperor Moth Cocoon is an amazing construction,making it very difficult for predators to reach the Pupa inside.At the entrance at the top of the cocoon there is very stiff bristle like fibres that kind of spring back after the transformed moth pushes through,these fibres can only be forced open from the inside,and as the Moth emerges the fibres spring back and close.also the outer case of the Cocoon is very tough, made from lots of Silk spun by the Caterpillar in readiness for Pupation.But even with all the above protection, this Small Parasitic Wasp manages to breach those defences.From this Emperor Cocoon 25 of these Wasps Emerged from this tiny hole !

Walk advertised above.

Just to point out that this is a Free Event,
as are all Halifax Scientific Society walks and talks. You may if you wish donate a little something to HSS funds. It's also in the Wildside Booklet of the Countryside Service.

The toad spawn may now be tadpoles, though at this height and in this season it could be late developing.  It appears in a drainage channel, so is easy to see.

The weather is set fair, so there's a good chance to see the rare Bilberry Bumble Bees busying themselves making up for lost time. We sometimes see Common Lizards, and also Green Hairstreaks; very specialised moorland butterflies.

There will probably be Common Sandpipers, Willow Warblers, Red Grouse and Curlews to see and hear, and who knows what else? Maybe a Wheatear or a Ring Ouzel if we're lucky.

Is this an Emporer Moth Cocoon ?

Found on the moorland between Widdop and Upper Gorple Reservoirs earlier this spring (14th April).

It was lying on the surface. 

I have seen similar things before, including some weathering out of a high peat bank, their position low down in the peat suggesting they were from a very long time ago. Couldn't find these the next time as I was at the same place (other side of Widdop Res. on top of the ridge.) Maybe evidence of prehistoric moths?

Dawn Chorus Walk - Hardcastle Crags - Sunday

Dawn Chorus Walk

Get up early on Sunday 26th May for an unmissable natural spectacle at Hardcastle Crags. Let our local bird expert lead you on a guided tour through the beautiful dawn chorus, as our feathered friends wake from their slumber and join together for an outstanding orchestral performance. After a four mile walk, enjoy a hot drink and light breakfast in the cafe at Gibson Mill.

Booking essential on 01422 844518. £5 fee includes breakfast. Meet at Midgehole Car Park at 4.30am. For more info go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardcastle-crags/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Trees---What's happening?

Trees are very late in coming into leaf this Spring. I have never seen such a reluctance in bud opening and there are many Oaks that still have their's tightly shut.
Birch which is normally green by this time, is looking scrappy and tired and I have seen one which has only a few leaves as all the remaining buds and twigs are dead. Birch has looked desperate for a few years with their leaves heavily brown with rust.
Lime trees are struggling to open their full compliment of leaves. I have seen Hawthorns that have died suddenly over a couple of years. Elder bushes have died in a similar timescale. Sycamores, which normally are one of the earliest trees to leaf, have many that are still in bud.
I think last year's never ending rain may have affected root systems, coupled with the lack of sunshine last year and this, plus the persistent below average temps.
Maybe trees will recover and catch up but I wonder if many are under severe stress.
Has anyone else any observations?