Withens Clough and Cragg Vale

I went to check to see if there were any surviving butterwort after the wall collapse and subsequent repairs.  Sadly I couldn't find a single star of leaves and it looks like it is lost.  Having known it at this site since a lad in the 1980s, I don't mind admitting I feel gutted about it.  Some consolation was the Jacob's Ladder nearby, which I first saw at this location in the 1980s too (the bumblebee is Bombus pascuorum).
Below Little Manshead Hill, the hay-meadows looked stunning with their displays of meadow buttercup.

HSS walk 5th May to Windy Harbour

This is a digression but I hope anyone interested in maps, history and myth may find it of interest. (Google 'National Library of Scotland Maps" and you will have free access to 1st and later editions of 6" and 25" ordnance survey maps for the whole of England as well as Scotland--a fantastic resource).

                                                    --------------------------------------

The 5th of May meeting was at Windy Harbour Lane above Todmorden, just south of the Blackshaw Head road, to accomplish a plant survey in the nearby fields.

Later, I looked at old maps to see how the area had changed.

The 1st edition of the ordnance survey map (6" to a mile) was surveyed in 1848 and it shows the land area near Windy Harbour is named as "Olymphus". But in the second edition of 1889 the name has gone, never to reappear. However, the local farmer today still refers to the field by this name.

One of the survey fields has a number of scattered trees, mainly in one half towards the clough. Back in 1848 the whole of this field was covered in trees, both conifers and broadleaf. It was named as "Black Cam".

By 1905, half of Black Cam had been made into a meadow again and the remaining trees were known as "Black Common Plantation". The situation today has not changed and the same trees occupy the same half of the field. Which makes some of the trees not less than 170 years old.

There is mention of the word "Olymphus" in the book "The Travels of Sir John Manderville", which he wrote in about 1356.

"And there is a great hill, that men clepe Olymphus---And it is so high, that it passeth the clouds. And men say in these countries, that philosophers some time went upon these hills, and held to their nose a sponge moisted with water, for to have air; for the air above was so dry.  And above, in the dust and in the powder of those hills, they wrote letters and figures with their fingers.  And at the year’s end they came again, and found the same letters and figures, the which they had written the year before, without any default.  And therefore it seemeth well, that these hills pass the clouds and join to the pure air."

(clepe is now an archaic word but means 'give something a specified name')

Also of interest; there is a standing stone in the middle of the Olymphus field at Windy Harbour, which is not shown on the 1848 map but first appears on the 1905 map. This stone is still there.

It makes you wonder if the land owner took the Olymphus reference at face value and decided to mark the highest point as the home of the Greek Gods.     And why not.


                                           Black Cam trees and 2 botanists

                             Sycamore that is probably over 170 years old. 

The Guardian of the Olymphus Stone

A call to act on bloodsports, unless you believe they are harmless or beneficial.

I just signed the petition "Richard Flint, CEO: End grouse shooting on Yorkshire Water moors" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

Our goal is to reach 2,500 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://chn.ge/2xceDKj

Thanks!
Brian

(Brian is a trusted source for me - SB, and the link seems fine, not that I'm an expert.)

Colden Clough

The packhorse bridge at the top end of Colden clough has lost one of its giant slabs from the deck. A sycamore tree fell over due to waterlogging of its roots and knocked the slab into the water, breaking the stone in two.

Scaffolding and planks have made the bridge secure to use but there seems no sign of any repair work. It is a listed bridge.

I was enjoying the fields on the upper edge of the wooded clough, with all the buttercups--a sea of yellow. But not for long, as the farmer was busy with his tractor spraying all the fields via a long boom. Dare I hope it wasn't weed-killer?

Unhealthy Conifers

Walking in Colden Clough today I noticed many of the conifers on the opposite side of the valley looked unhealthy. As you can see from the photo, many are brown and possibly dying.

They would need a closer look to see what is happening but they don't look as they should.

Where are the bees and pollinating insects?

I reported on this blog a few days ago about the lack of bees and insects. I have spent time since then looking at all flowers I come across and have not see any of them with a pollinating insect. For instance, Rosa rugosa is normally full of bumble bees rolling about in the nectar but this year--none to be seen.

All the vast number of Hawthorn blossoms that I have looked at are totally lacking in anything--nothing at all is to be seen in any of their flowers.

I looked on the web and found an article from entomologists in Australia who are puzzled by the widespread decline of insects in their country. They have spoken to entomologists in other countries, who have reported the same decline in insect numbers.

No-one seems to have a clue why this is so, particularly as it is a worldwide phenomenon and so cannot be related to specific circumstances in one area.

Has anyone else noticed this lack of pollinating insects, or is it just me that is being unlucky at finding them?

A study from Germany was reported last October "In just 3 decades, insect populations in German nature reserves have plummeted by more than 75%, according to a new study".

Here is an extract from the Australian report, where even the controlled breeding of a butterfly species is failing.

"The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda, west of Cairns, has had difficulty breeding the far north's iconic Ulysses butterfly for more than two years.

"We've had [the problem] checked by scientists, the University of Queensland was involved, Biosecurity Queensland was involved but so far we haven't found anything unusual in the bodies [of caterpillars] that didn't survive," said breeding laboratory supervisor Tina Kupke.

"We've had some short successes but always failed in the second generation. "Ms Lupke said the problem was not confined to far north Queensland, or even Australia.

"Some of our pupae go overseas from some of our breeders here and they've all had the same problem," she said. "And the Melbourne Zoo has been trying for quite a while with the same problems."

I find all this extremely worrying. But where is the concern? Are we so enthralled by modern life that it doesn't matter to us? But matter it will, whether we like it or not, when the impact shatters our complacency.

Link to full article here http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-24/decline-in-insect-population-baffles-scientists/9481136

Buttercup

I wonder what these are in the buttercup?

Weather about to break so must have a look at

the Peregrines at Square Chapel Spire (Piece Hall or Library Spire to some.) Peregrines originally reported by AB this year I believe, also by MSt.

04.31 Male Peregrine appeared straight away, flew in and perched on the outside.
04.58 Male and female Peregrine flying round.
05.00 Male Peregrine flying round calling.
05.12 Female Peregrine flew out from spire and perched on the outside, preened.
If there is a Peregrine nest it could be on the balcony behind the north facing balustrade.
Fewer Jackdaws than two years ago when I counted birds prior to building work, when Kestrels were  present. Kestrels missed a year during building project.
One Jackdaw nest on east side, another over the yard in the Industrial Museum, and another in the Hughes Corporation building, just over the road.
05.15 One Pigeon flew out and back into the spire.
05.16 Male Peregrine flew out from balustrade ledge and flew directly north.
05.24 Pigeon flew away.
05.29 Female Peregrine had gone - didn't see it go.

(Edited notes - several other sightings of Peregrines circling spire.)

Female who came out to preen.

This months talk at the Imperial Crown Hotel

Where have they gone?

Is it just me or is there something very odd with wildlife this year. There are no bees, no insects, no House Martins.

I walked for miles along a floriferous canal towpath, with Hawthorn in profuse blossom and only saw one bee. None of the blossom had any insects. I stopped to listen for the usual buzz and it was deathly quiet.

That walk was in hot sunny weather and down near Leamington Spa. It was the same in all the nature reserves nearby--nothing to be seen apart from the occasional Orange Tip butterfly.

On arriving back home I walked round the usual places that are normally full of bees and insects but all the flowers were silent.

Tod park usually has a good colony of House Martins nesting under the Sports' Centre roof but not this year.

Please can someone reassure me that my experience is atypical.

Centre Vale Park Local Nature reserve

If you are squeamish; don't watch

I found the body of a dead fox by the horrible smell from some distance. It was being devoured by maggots and just look at the video to see how fast they move---creepy!

Also put the sound up high and listen to the lovely birdsong in our wood.

Lamprey? Worm? Leech?

We found this strange creature in a brook up at Shedden Clough on May 7th at around midday. It has the appearance of an earthworm, but it is very pale, almost white. What really stumped us was the lamprey-like mouth which you can see in the first picture and which in the second picture seems to be attaching itself to the rocks under the water. Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be?

Climate change as history

In case we thought that climate change was only suggested in recent times, here is a quote from c1840

" Alphonse de Candolle wrote to Asa Gray asking him about the effect of the destruction of the forests in America on the climate."

Asa Gray was the foremost American botanist of the 19thC and Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle was a botany professor at the University of Geneva. His dad was Augustin Pyramus de Candolle who originated the idea of "nature's war", which influenced Charles Darwin and the principle of natural selection.

For anyone interested in the forests of America, read "American Canopy" by Eric Rutkow. A fascinating book on the relationship between Americans and their trees. One of the best books I have ever read.

Duck

Bolton Abbey woodland has these unconcerned Mandarin ducks, probably fed by passing walkers. Good to have them much closer to see their beautiful colours.

Meadow Foxtail

Most grasses have all kinds of tiny creatures hiding on them. This Meadow Foxtail shows a larger one but I have no idea what it is.

                                                Showing full size of the spike for comparison         

Mayflowers don't need a notice board

Our grass verges are always mown with traditional regularity but this year the first cut was much later than usual. What a surprise then to see the number of Mayflowers along the whole avenue and elsewhere, that have never been seen in decades.

It couldn't last of course. Today the workers moved in. I wish I could say the mowing was done with determination. But it was all done without passion as the cut Mayflowers were trodden into the ground.

Elsewhere, Councillors are investing in spraying areas of ground to sow colourful (but not necessarily native) annual displays. They are very proud of these and place notice boards to inform the public of their good deeds.

Perhaps Mayflowers aren't colourful enough, or maybe no-one recognises them anymore. They are gone now, with a sigh of relief that order is restored.

The Botanist of earlier times was known as a "Looker-Out". A good description for a world now forgotten.

But I know where the Mayflowers are.

                                               
 
                                                         Good to look at the flowers                                                 

                                                                But not for long

And now they are gone

This Month's Talk and indoor meeting.

Bluebell Walk 28th April with Autumn Crocuses (in Spring?)

As a change from the annual Bluebell Walk round Elland Park Wood this year we are following the river along from Elland; meet 10.30 at junction with Gasworks Lane, half way along the Elland Bridge.

You can take yourself back in time before the canal was there and before the main road from Elland to Brighouse was built, and imagine the sweep of bluebells going right up the hillside from the river.

It was at this period in history the Autumn Crocus must have been introduced from the Pyrenees, and there are at least two spots where we will see the leaves, which are only up in spring. In fact spring is the best time to locate the patches, as the flowers are so short-lived.

Lots of other interesting plants and birds too!

It's a fairly easy walk, with no great hills but there will be some moderately muddy footpaths.
About 3 miles.

White Holme, 21st April 2018

I went up hoping for emperor moths, without luck, though did get some other good stuff, including the beetle Carabus nitens, something I've been dying to see for years, green tiger beetles and my first wimberry bumblebee (Bombus monticola) at this location.

Cheers, Chris

Why the different Fungi?

This Sycamore in our woodland has been dead for more than a decade. The short remaining length of upright trunk has only Ganoderma fungi growing round the stem.

Two separate lengths of this tree that lie on the ground have only Hoof Fungus--Fomes fomentarius, growing extensively along their rotting trunks.

It is said that dead trunks remaining upright have a different suite of fungi than trees lying on the ground.

I believe Hoof Fungus is not often seen in Calderdale, so I am pleased to have found such a large gathering. Books always say it has a preference for Birch but not in this case. Thanks go to Peachy Steve who helped confirm the identity and steered me away from Ganoderma pfefferi.

Interesting facts about Hoof Fungus:-- The flesh of the fruit bodies can be soaked in water, cut into strips and then beaten into fibres. The resultant fibres are called Amadou, which was used by dentists for drying teeth and surgeons as a styptic. Items of clothing have also been made from the Amadou fibres.

The 5,000 year old Otzi the Iceman was carrying pieces of Hoof Fungus, probably for use as tinder to light a fire.

                                                         Ganoderma (applanatum?)

                                         
                                                      From below, showing the pores

                                                         Close up of Ganoderma

Fomes fomentarius--Hoof Fungus

                                  Waxy surface which led me to initially consider G. pfeifferi

                                          Hoof fungus showing pore pattern from below

Amphibian Walk Today

We had a superb day for the scheduled spring Amphibian Walk at Cromwell Bottom, and a good turn-out. 19 people age range 70 to 2.5! Plus Meg the dog.

The Cromwell Bottom Wildlife group kindly had the Cabin open, for the toilets and snacks/drinks. Thank you Jane for coming down early and opening up. Much appreciated. I think there was a work party as well. The reserve was looking great.

Amphibian watching was brilliant, with a male and female Palmate Newts netted in the Top Pond.
We counted approx. 27 clumps of frogspawn in various waters.

The toad breeding site I located at Tag Lock last year  was in use again. we could see about four toads from behind the barrier, and binoculars revealed many spawn strings tangled together in the clear water. This year the chorus of chirps of the males wasn't going on.

At the Big Pond dipping platform we netted two newt larvae with feathery gills. The bloom of "blanket weed" algae obstructed dipping somewhat, but in itself was a source of fascination to one Mum and two teenage daughters, who compared it to a textile and took some home to investigate further. It was a bright green colour and looked interesting under a 20x hand lens. In the old Halifax Naturalist there are passages about the algae species we have in water and on land, but the writer despaired even then of members ever studying them thoroughly.

Nearing the end of the walk, returning by the canal bank, I described hearing the previous year, but not being able to see, a toad breeding site, and they were calling again today. This time I spotted a male leave the edge of the water to escape into the depths and I caught him in my net. Then we heard the high-pitched calls coming from both sides of the canal. The waiting males obviously sit in the overhang of stones/ herbage at the very edge. We couldn't spot any spawn-strings though. This was just upstream of Freemans Bridge.

We spent some time at the bird feeding station, and among the commoner residents (Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Jay, ) we saw Bullfinch, Male Blackcap, Chiff-chaff and four Redpolls. The Redpolls were feeding on insects high in the Goat Willows, as were the Chiff-chaffs.

We are getting less surprised at the regular Buzzard soaring over the reserve, but the views were beautiful in the sunlight when one came quite close. Kingfisher was also seen by one member.

An interesting fungus we saw twice was Yellow Brain, a small, bright jelly on twigs on the ground

The Marsh Marigolds were blooming, also bright yellow, in the old Tag Cut, and the peculiar bottle-brush formed Butterbur flowers were emerging, leafless, from the soil. At Crowther Bridge we looked for and found a good quantity of the Common Whitlow-grass in the joints between the cobbles, a tiny flowering plant which is not common at all.

Finally, we were sure of spring when we saw two Comma Butterflies in courtship flight and one of them sending off a Peacock Butterfly.

Liverwort

In Centre Vale Park today this flowering Liverwort was quite striking and even from a distance it looked like a mist had descended. It has delicate stems with a cream or black, dewdrop size ball at the tip.

The liverwort appears every year but this damp weather we have had recently seems to have cheered it up.

It seems to prefer damp shady places on bare soil and probably does not like competition from other plants---not much chance of that happening on some of the shadier slopes beneath Beech in the Park!

A place for everything; shade is not always bad.


                                           

Tonight's meeting!

Don't forget, tonight's talk and meeting is at the TOWN HALL, Crossley Street, Halifax.  Entrance on the corner by the post box. The talk will be given by Chris Tomson of the RSPB on Farming and Wildlife.  We look forward to seeing you - the meeting starts at 7.15 prompt!

Bumblebees may just buzz off

We are worrying about the wrong bees, says Gwen Pearson in Science magazine.

Honey bees will be fine.  Apis mellifera will not go extinct and the species is not remotely threatened with extinction. The bees we should be concerned about are the wild native species.

In a Research trial (published in the Nature Journal) it found that Honey bees weren’t affected by seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides but wild bees were and in a big way. Wild bee density in the treated fields was half that of the untreated fields. Bumble bee colonies grew more slowly and produced fewer queens. Solitary bee nests disappeared from the treated fields completely.

Many wild pollinators are declining and honeybees can't pick up the slack. Managed colonies supplement the work of wild pollinators, not the other way round. Wild bees and other insects do most of the pollination and are actually more effective pollinators --two to three times better.

Studies from many countries have demonstrated the negative effects of commercial bees, leading to a decline in local bee populations through competition over floral resources. It was found where hives of honeybees were placed, the bumblebees disappeared almost entirely.

Honeybees are more interested in the nectar and don't really want the pollen if they can avoid it; whereas wild bees are mostly pollen collectors, which is then taken back to their nests.

There is even a suggestion that wild flowers may be declining because they are not being effectively pollinated and therefore not reproducing.

All the above is condensed from original articles. If anyone wants a link to the more detailed originals, just ask. They won't copy and paste from this blog.

Help with a Toad Patrol Needed

52 toads picked up, three squashed Friday at Copley Valley new road. If anyone knows of anyone who might be able to help please give them a hint, as it's knackering on my own! No children please as the road is dangerous. Heartwarming to see the little characters (toads) marching away down the tunnel (it's 2ft - 60cm diameter) after I place them at the entrance. Started 20.20 Fri. Mild and dry conditions.