Tree tube shelters can be killers

I read that tree tubes can be a hazard for young birds. They get in them for insects etc but then find they cannot get out. Some tubes have been found with many dead birds. I am  not sure whether this problem is recognised in this country but in America tree tubes have to have a 'top' to prevent entry by birds.

With the many thousands of tree tubes in Calderdale, standing for years on end, does anyone know if there is a problem with dead birds locally?

Buzzards not welcome

In the Yorkshire Post, Country Week section, it reports that Defra is to fund £375,000 over the next 3 years in an experiment in Northumberland to harass Buzzards. This will include nest destruction and permanent off-site removal to a falconry centre.

Defra has had complaints from the game shooting business about buzzards taking young pheasants and this is Defra's response. The RSPB are naturally shocked by this venture.

Oats Royd Ponds

I was having a chat with two fisherman yesterday who have permission from the owner to fish the ponds at Oats Royd. When I told them that during my birding forays I used to see big carp on the surface in summer months upto and including 2011, they responded with some dismaying news indeed.
All the big fish and most other fish have now been taken from the ponds by poachers. One of them paid a visit recently and could find only two small fish in a period of hours. I mentioned on March 29 this year that I had seen two very unsavoury characters walking from the ponds upto Bradshaw carrying rods. They responded that it got more industrial than that - on one occasion a small trawling net was discovered submersed!

Two years back there were two domestic white geese happily esconced here and one evening I found the recent remains of one spread out on the bank. One of these guys told me he had actually fished the body of the bird from the water one or two nights before. It bore all the hallmarks of having been given a good stoning, which is what I feel the perpetrators should have done to them. The remaining goose has in the past 6 months or so got a new partner, for how long remains to be seen.
The landowner has declared the reserve is for everybody; obviously everybody is not for the reserve.

Hawthorn and Oak Gall

Hawthorn Blossom and Oak Gall in Sowerby Bridge this week.


Photos Michael Sykes

Stop Spring Hunting in Malta

Maltese birders have organised a petition to ban spring hunting. 

Sign this petition and make a difference. Why this is important

   In Spring-time, birds (Turtle Doves and Quails) are in their best and migrate from Africa to Europe. They cross the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean sea to mainland Europe to breed and raise their young.

Both species are in decline, and shooting them when passing through Malta in Spring is contributing to this decline. Many other protected birds are indiscriminately shot every Spring whilst the hunting season is open.  More information...  

Also for a film made by our own Steve Cummings about the issues out there go to visit this link and check out "Birds Bins and Bullets". 

Thanks Nick for the above link.

Dunlin at Soil Hill

Picture: David Franz

Dawn Chorus Event for any night-owls.

This young tawny owl was in Bankhouse Wood recently.

Any human night-owls who fancy a  DAWN CHORUS event can join the Scientific Society for a listen out in Cragg Vale on Sunday at dawn. This one's unsuitable for dogs.

Meet quietly at the public car park at Russell Dean's Mytholmroyd Showroom. 2.45am for a 3.00am start. SE014260.

 From there we will share lifts if required and park quietly at Dauber Bridge, a little way up Cragg Road. We'll walk up the track towards Broadhead Clough, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. We'll probably stop before the reserve and sit and wait for dawn, so you might want to bring a  waterproof something to sit on or a camp chair.

If its mild and calm with light cloud or the sun coming up, we will be in for a treat! Then we'll go home at about 4.30 - 5.00 for a lovely Sunday lie-in.

Back Yard Deer

I just had a big surprise when I looked out the kitchen window; two Roe Deer were in the back field staring right back at me! I grabbed my camera and returned, an action that took only 10 seconds but such is their wariness, they had scarpered. A quick dash upstairs into the back bedroom failed to turn them up, still it's a good memory to have.

Now, where did those sparrows go?

 This Sparrowhawk just missed out on a meal at my feeders today.

Tree planting affecting moorland birds?

I notice on the Calderdale bird blog there have been comments made about tree planting up Blackshaw Head and its possible effect on moorland birds. If anyone has access to that blog, perhaps they can post this link to a meeting that is planning where to put all these trees, courtesy of Pennine Prospects. If there isn't input from birders, we may get trees in innapropiate areas.

Mark Turner Mark.Turner@pennineprospects.co.uk
9 May (6 days ago)
to Mark

Dear colleague I’d like to invite you to a workshop to discuss the development and management of woodlands across the South Pennines. This event follows-on from an earlier meeting held in Todmorden in August 2011.  The workshop will take place on Thursday 31st May 2012 at The Media Centre in Huddersfield (http://www.the-media-centre.co.uk/) and will bring together partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors. The workshop will run from 2:00-4:30pm.  The workshop will enable delegates to discuss and update the South Pennines woodland opportunities map currently being produced by consultants with resources provided by the Forestry Commission. So far a number of constraints on woodland creation across the South Pennines National Character Area have been mapped following one-to-one consultation with partner organisations. The workshop will provide an opportunity to ensure that we have correctly recorded the constraints on woodland creation and to begin to identify areas where woodland creation can best be targeted. The event will also provide an opportunity to hear about other potential woodland opportunities across the South Pennines and the development of a proposed South Pennines Local Nature Partnership.  I do hope that you are able to join us on 31st May. If you, or colleagues, would like to come along please can you contact Ann Atkins, Pennine Prospects company secretary (ann.atkins@pennineprospects.co.uk), and confirm attendance by Monday 28th May 2012? Places are limited so please try to book as early as possible. A more detailed agenda and further information about the venue will be circulated to participants ahead of the workshop.  With best wishes

Weeds--what's the problem?

Just had a few days in Linconshire and was struck with the relaxed attitude to the flora allowed to grow in all areas of the towns, in pavements, walls and every nook and cranny. All the large and small towns I visited were the same, not one had spent any money on spraying. It was a delight to botanise all these strange plants and it was so attractive. Good for bees, butterflies, birds.
This lack of spraying is a cultural thing as I have noticed the same thing in Linconshire many years ago before this current economic difficulty. Also a great majority of roadside verges are designated nature areas and managed as such. Wonderful flora for mile upon mile. In contrast, Calderdale has acres of mowed-to-death verges.

One has to ask why Calderdale is so keen on wasting vast amounts of money on spraying. This spring was terrible with brown, dead grasses and plants littering everywhere, Suburbia personified. Maybe we should change our cultural attitude and accept some of our annual flora. Goodness only knows why the base of large mature trees need the grass spraying, it makes a right mess. Leaving the grass long will prevent the root area from drying out, whereas killing the grass puts our urban trees under even more stress.
Time for a policy change? Anybody interested?

Damselfly

I saw my first damselfly today, a large red, at Sunnybank Todmorden. I was just leaving when I saw it perched on my binocular strap! It was very lethargic and unwilling to fly. Probably newly emerged.

Early morning Whimbrel

A Whimbrel flew over my house this morning calling loudly and woke me up. It was 3:30 am!
At least its a new record for the house.

A beautiful walk in Park Woods

A beautiful walk in Park Wood, Elland yesterday revealed swathes of bluebells as far as the eye could see.

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather, wall to wall sun and a breeze to waft the perfume of the bluebells to our noses.

Steve gave information to the walkers about things other than bluebells which they were all appreciative of and after a slight (unintended) detour we made our way down to the canal and back along to our starting point.

A really lovely walk in the woods. Thanks Steve.

"Into the Woods Week"

Notes on the visit and Comments on the Bluebell walk at Elland Park Wood today.

Site Visit this Saturday 12th of April at Cromwell Bottom

Just a reminder that the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group is meeting in the main car park at 9:00 to 9:30
Lots to do and talk about. We hope to welcome some new faces as well!
The weather looks promising too. Plenty migrant birds to hear and see. Should be an enjoyable day. Everyone Welcome.
And for those who would like to visit the close by Bluebell woods in the afternoon, then visit this Link.

West Lagoon January 2012

See you all then.

Pennine Twite

For those that missed it, here is the Twite article that appeared on Countryfile.

First ever Orange-tip here

A male Orange-tip visited some Forget-me-nots in my garden briefly mid-day today.
I thought they were only known to feed from Cuckoo-flower.

Small treasures like this make Calderdale a great place to live. We don't  have many national rarities.
Perhaps the Yellow Birds-nest plants at Todmorden and Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve are the best candidates. Unfortunately Network Rail have informed that the one at Todmorden is on land where they would like to extend the carpark for Todmorden Station. They don't need planning permission! Sorry to be the poster of bad news. Must write to Network Rail tomorrow with my positive suggestions to save it.

Here are some of my target species to see soon, sad ommisions from my British "Life List", to borrow a twitching term.
Most will involve trips around the country, but some not very far.

I MUST see:

Mountain Hare (Pennines just South of here.)
Sand Lizard
Pine Marten
Polecat
Scottish Wild Cat
Stoat in ermine
Most bats
Crane
Large Blue Butterfly
Capercaillie
Lamprey  (Confidently claimed to have been videoed recently in the Ryburn.)
Char
Ten-spined Stickleback
Sea Eagle
Smooth Snake
Dormouse
Edible Dormouse
Henbane
Deadly Nightshade
Dryas octopetala
Death Cap fungus
Minke Whale (or any whales.)
Emporer Moth
Privet Hawk-moth
Stag Beetle
Feral Wild Boar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . more than I thought. Won't see them all this year!

Plantation Hare

The Hare reported previously (presumably the same animal) was by the side of the footpath at Ogden Back Lane this afternoon at approx 1340 hrs. I only noticed it when it decided to run so it must have been just 3/4 metres away from me in the grass.

Calderdale Wildlife: Plantation Hare

In the trees at Ogden Res itself, a Grey Tree Rat (Squirrel) was busy trying to raid a Tit species nest in one of the green boxes. It could only get it's nose in and gave up - naturally just as I had my camera almost primed. Judging by the two Great Tits that were acting up nearby, the box must have been their vessel of species continuity.

Newt Survey

If you have any records or sightings of newt anywhere in Calderdale then please contact:

Evie Bell
Ecological Records Officer
01924 306 793
ebell@wyjs.org.uk

    

     Distribution map of Palmate and Smooth Newt                              Distribution map of Smooth Newt

Click for  Identification of Palmate Newt                                        Click for  Identification of Smooth Newt

Male smooth newt

Palmate Newt

                       
                           

A Nice Surprise

At Tag Cut (Cromwell Bottom Local Nature reserve) today there was a Moorhen with its brood of 3 or 4 very small chicks.
Lets hope they all survive, and start a resurgence of this lovely species in the area where it used to be much commoner. Mink have been blamed for its scarceness.

Another plant ID please

This was growing in a water sink at the edge of some fields near Midgley

Strait Hey this morning

During a walk over Strait Hey this morning, before the rain set in, a Roe Deer was quietly grazing among the hawthorns.

The birds I saw during the walk included Curlew, Wheatear, Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings, Lapwing, Linnet and Twite - details are on the Calderdale Birds blog.

Yesterday in Mankinholes I saw my first Speckled Wood of the year.

Soil Hill - Early Monday

Lots of linnets
Mipits
Skylark
2 Lapwing
4 Grey Partridge
Pheasant
No Wheatear seen
Crow, Magpie, rather quiet.

Good views of a pair of Roe Deer

Wild Garlic

Allium ursinum

Michael Sykes sent this picture of Wild Garlic in Crimsworth Dene. The aroma must have been wonderful.

Thanks Mike