Toads Moving to their breeding ponds

I checked the known road crossing points around the Copley Valley this evening and found:

Washer Lane 0 and 0 dead toads
Bottom track (along past the Milner Royd Allotments) 19 males and 1 possible female. 0 dead.
Copley Lane 0 and 0 dead.

Watch out for them on any small road near water, as I am sure you will want to steer round if you are driving, when it's safe to do so.

Anyone who wants to see the migrating toads, or help move them off the road, meet at the start of the allotments track (Sowerby Bridge Household Recycling Site.) at 8.30pm tomorrow, Friday. Bring a torch and wear old shoes, light clothing. (I have only one spare high-visibility vest.)

I wont give tallies here every night, but will keep notes. If others at other toad-watch points could do the same, we could collate them at the end of the season.

I can't do this Saturday, but can Sunday, probably.

Wheatear Migration

Dave has posted a fascinating insight into Wheatear migration on the Calderdale Birds blog.
Link.

New Phytopthera killing Juniper

We now have a new disease to add to the current worry about Phytopthera ramorum. A damaging plant disease that was until recently almost unknown in Britain has been confirmed in rare native juniper bushes at the Moor House-Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve in the North Pennines of England.The disease is caused by Phytophthora austrocedrae, a fungus-like organism that infects the plant through the root system and causes the foliage to decline and eventually die.Juniper is a native conifer and a member of the Cypress (Cupressaceae) family of plants. P. austrocedrae infection was only confirmed in the UK last year on other trees from this family, at two sites in Scotland.

I have provided a link to this and there are other interesting reports on this page which many will find interesting. I have not come across this link before http://www.countryside-jobs.com/NewsArchive/Archive2012/06.html

Spring is round the corner

Pennywort - (New Lane) © Michael Sykes

Oak Apple Biorhiza pallida   © Michael Sykes

Michael took these pictures today on "The Rocks", Albert Promenade, Halifax 

Crocus © Michael Sykes

Library Consultation Cancelled

The proposed meeting at the Library this next Tuesday has been cancelled.
See Council announcement: 
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/council/news/pressreleases/detail.jsp?id=24949

Courier Quote:

"THE council’s ill-fated attempts to get public backing for a new library in Halifax have ended in shambles."
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/halifax_library_consultation_will_be_re_run_in_june_1_4252181

Crocus at Manor Heath

Crocus   © Michael Sykes

Crocus in flower at Manor Heath,
Halifax.  February 15th


Picture: Michael Sykes

Kingfisher Video - Chris Burns

A brilliant video by Chris Burns of a female Kingfisher at Cromwell Bottom LNR
Click Link to video

Notice of A.G.M. of the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group March 2012

Please Note Date Change. The first A.G.M. of the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group will be on Tuesday
March 27th 2012    GWH   Link

The Halifax Scientific Society - Tuesday 14th February

A reminder of next meeting at the Central Library Halifax at 7:15pm. Finn Jensen talks about Climate Change. All welcome.

Volunteer Day

Just a reminder that there will be tree and bush planting
and nest box erecting at Cromwell Bottom tomorrow
11th Feb 2012.
Meet at the Fishermans carpark at 9:30 All Welcome
GWH

Halifax Birdwatchers' Club

      

Bird Report 2010


The bird report is now available at Woodlesford
News Agents, Pellon /Mount Tabor price £5.00.

Soil Hill Snow Bunting - Video

Up at Soil hill this morning in the fine drizzle searching for the Snow Buntings, found them then they obliged staying in one spot for a video, they had a good cleaning session in the drizzle, enjoy 3 minutes.

Chris Burns

Final Statement - Budget Proposals, Countryside Services

Hi all
Please find below a link to above Document: This is the final statement now sent to the Council and other recipients.
Very many thanks to those who attended meetings and/or signed the Draft Document. Special thanks to
Anthony Rae for compiling the Statement.

Document Link

Rescheduled Priority Species Workshop - 22nd February

Hello all,

The rescheduled Priority Species Workshop will be held on Wednesday 22nd February at 7.15 in the Mytholmroyd Countryside Services Office (above the library). The meeting will include an update on Calderdale's Biodiversity Action Plan and small discussion groups for different species.

It will be a opportunity to discuss actions for priority species in Calderdale for the coming year with Hugh Firman and other interested parties. If you would like to come along and contribute to the meeting please email Hugh to express your interest: hugh.firman@calderdale.gov.uk.

Anybody interested in helping conserve Calderdale's wildlife is welcome to attend.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Christine

Tree sparrows

Allan Wolfenden reports that tree sparrow has been seen on the feeder at Cromwell Bottom.
The Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group will be erecting bird boxes there this Saturday.
Volunteers very welcome.

Winters fingers

Hardcastle Crags © Michael Sykes

Michael Sykes took this photo at Hardcastle Crags on the 4th of February. 


This is one of the very few limestone flushes in Calderdale.

Jews ear

Jews ear.  Auricularia auricula-judae

Jews ear fungus at Cromwell Bottom on 29/1/2012 next to the canal.

Cromwell Bottom

Mick and Kath Sharpe have submitted this photo of a female kingfisher at Cromwell Bottom.

For more birds on site click here.

Not from Calderdale but I thought you might like to see it

Frost Flowers in Snowdonia on Monday. They are amazing and some look just like feathers.

They are created by thin layers of ice being extruded from the twigs and were also on branches on live trees.

Results of Meeting on 30th January re Budget proposals

Please find attached a note from Monday's well attended meeting. 

This has been emailed to colleagues from Anthony Rae.

The deadline is next Wednesday 8th February budget(at)calderdale.gov.uk; the 

following Monday 13th is when the Cabinet will actually make its budget recommendations.
   I've already prepared a draft of our joint statement and I will circulate it to you as soon as possible for comment/approval; 
Then next Thursday 9th February 6 p.m. the council's Communities Scrutiny panel will be reviewing budget proposals including the Countryside Service. 
That is when I will present our joint statement and I would recommend you attend if you can/want to. You often get a chance to submit your views in person.
   also find attached a copy of an article that appeared in yesterday's Courier.

Anthony     Link to Minutes of Mondays Meeting   Link to Courier article

Violet coral fungi

Fungi. Clavaria zollingeri  © Micheal Sykes

Clavaria zollingeri, Commonly known as the violet coral or the magenta coral.
This specimen was found by Michael Sykes a couple of years ago. It is rare in the Uk and usually only found in the south. it appears occasionally in the Blackshaw Head area of Calderdale.

S. austriaca  © Michael Sykes

Scarlet Elf Cup from near Wakefield Road, Copley.


Picture taken on 26/1/2012 by M. Sykes.

Myxomatosis Strikes

Among the scores of healthy Rabbits in Luddenden Dean today was this one individual showing signs of myxomatosis. The picture could be better but the swollen eye and orbit can be seeing on enlarging the image. The animal chose to crouch down and lay still as opposed to it's neighbours which ran away.

Rabbit with enlarged eyesockets

Also seen was one Weasel scurrying across the road.

Snowdrop

Galanthus navalis © Michael Sykes

Snowdrops in flower.
Calderdale.


Picture: Michael Sykes

Blackcap

A male Blackcap appeared in a garden near Well Head Park (Halifax) on 10th Jan. It defended the feeders against all other birds, forcing them to feed on the ground.

On 13th Jan in the morning, it was seen to fly high over the house towards the east, and hasn't returned.