To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,

This is not local but I'm sure we have all seen photos of this amazing Giant Sequoia with its incongruous and sad road tunnel drilled through it. Well it is now no more, having been blown down by recent storm. Read about it here:-

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/09/508919216/iconic-sequoia-tunnel-tree-brought-down-by-california-storm

"Tunnel trees were created in the 19th century to promote parks and inspire tourism". As if ancient trees were not inspiring enough.

Our first inside meeting of the year !

All welcome to this talk. After it there is a short refreshments break, then the very informal meeting of the society, when we talk about upcoming events, and collect any

 Natural History sightings, etc.  to go in the records. 

We just ask for a small donation to offset the cost of hiring the room.

Don't forget your chequebooks or cash if you are wishing to join or renew your membership.

(See Welcome to Walks, Talks and Joining tab above.)

Brain Fungi

I saw this Yellow Brain fungus Tremella mesenterica, near Foulridge in November. It was growing on a dead Ash twig.

It is very common and only seen on dead wood. I thought it actually fed on dead wood but apparently it feeds on crust fungi, which are themselves feeding on the wood. It is therefore classed as parasitic and not saprobic.

Note the very small fly which is feeding on the 'brain'!

Todmorden Waxwing Update 02 01 2017

Just an update on the Waxwings in Todmorden,numbers built up to 71 ,although the berries have all been eaten on Myrtle Street and most at Lidl car park today 02 01 16 there are still berries in the bus station on a single tree,and near the houses adjacent the  open ground where the old health centre used to be,only saw 2 today,feeding with a few Redwing and Blackbirds,and no doubt they will soon move on as the berries run out, Regards and Happy New Year.

Jan 1st - New Year's Day Walk, bird count and flowering plants count.

Meet us here in front of Clay House, West Vale, Greetland near Elland 10.30 for 10.40.

There is free public parking  in the drive, or just across the footbridge at the junction near the traffic lights.

The route is rough and wet in places so good waterproof boots with ankle support are needed. It is approximately 7 miles, so is a bit of a hike.

A picnic stop will be taken around mid-day, so something damp-proof  to sit on is useful.

Weather permitting, and taking all walkers' abilities into account, we will go through North Dean Woods, up Maple Dean (aka Norland ) Clough, across Norland Moor, and back via a slightly different route through the woods (on the Calderdale Way.) The speed will vary from moderate to stopped, to take in views or interesting wildlife. Back to Clay House about 15.30.

A dramatic sight we pass is the collapsed Copley Bridge, casualty of the Boxing Day 2015 floods. An interesting one is a recently-identified prehistoric standing stone.

This is a regular event, and includes some of the traditional HSS features such as the picnic, stopping to stare and to note things, and the option of a call at a hostelry on finishing if required.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Report on the Walk:


We got 31 bird species this year ! Notable was a fly-over Peregrine in the woods, it had missing feathers from right inner primaries.

We also found Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. We often get an odd Reed Bunting on the moor, but this time there were several groups around 4 to 8 and up to 15; both sexes.

Previous years totals were  2014 - 18 species, 2015 - 21, 2016 - 26. Interesting how it's going up each year.

Unfortunately we didn't see any flowering plants, but there was one very fine Soft Shield Fern I'd not noticed before.

We also saw a very relaxed herd of six Roe Deer, all does except one buck with his antlers still in velvet.

Number of walkers - very variable, infections and early rain bringing us down to three today !

Amazing bird behaviour

Not a native Heron, but if you look on You-tube under "Heron using bread as bait".
This must put Herons up with parrots and crows in the intelligence league.

Importing Plant Diseases

Apologies for another rather gloomy posting but Nature takes control, despite a general wish for it to go away and stop bothering us.

 

I wrote on this blog some while ago about Xylella fastidiosa, which is regarded as the most harmful plant pathogenic bacteria in the world. The number of species identified as being susceptible has now reached 359.

 

Worryingly for this country the list includes Oak and Sycamore trees. The disease was first discovered in Italy 3 years ago and has since spread to Spain, France and Germany.

Our own Plant Health Inspectors are on the lookout for entry of the disease to this country but since many plant hosts do not show any symptoms, it seems only a matter of time before this country is affected.

This account from Malta, a small island like our own, is very descriptive of what we are up against:--http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161216/opinion/Olive-quick-decline-syndrome.633992

The final paragraph is prophetic and I quote:--

"Prevention is better than cure, especially when there is no cure all. That would be the day when one can honestly boast of a sound environmental policy. From experience, political action in this regard will only be considered when the social, economic and environmental fabric have bit the dust".

I find this quote from the novel 'Tono Bungay' by H.G. Wells to be apposite:--

"It is like an early day in a fine October. The hand of change rests on it all, unfelt, unseen; resting for awhile, as it were half reluctantly, before it grips and ends the thing for ever. One frost and the whole face of things will be bare, links snap, patience end, our fine foliage of pretences lie glowing in the mire".

Celebrating our Woodland Heritage Surveys - volunteers needed!

Over the course of the next three years Pennine Prospects will be leading a programme of freely accessible archaeological surveys across the South Pennines in order gain a greater understanding of woodland development and management across the region.  Please follow the link below for full details - the surveys will start in January!

 http://www.celebrate-our-woodland.co.uk/archaeological-survey/

Xmas at HSS. All members and friends with their partners invited.

All members and our friends from other societies and CMBC are welcome to attend.

We are downstairs in the Central Library. Our library will be available to refer to as well as the items you may bring for HSS fundraising.

Trees reduce Global Warming -- but only in the tropics

The link listed at bottom of the page, is to a new climate change study that has some very interesting results. I will let you read it for yourself but there are a couple of quotes that are challenging to current thought.

"Apparently, these natural carbon sinks [forests] only do their job effectively in tropical regions; in other areas, they have either no impact or actually contribute to warming the planet".

"You can't just blindly go ahead and reforest and that will tackle climate change," he says, pointing out a key finding in the study. "If you think about conservation groups, they're all talking about planting trees. We should be protecting trees for other reasons."

Does this report undermine some of our assumptions on tree planting?

Find out here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tropical-forests-cool-earth/

A Beetle but not as I thought it

In May 2013 I posted to this blog my photo of what I assumed was a Bloody-Nosed beetle (BNB) Timarcha tenebricosa, which I saw at Blake Dean, Hardcastle Crags.

Following an article about this beetle in the YNU August edition of 'The Naturalist', there was also mention of the Small Bloody-Nosed beetle, T. goettingensis.

So I took another look at my photo and realised I had mis-identified and it is actually the Small BNB T. goettingensis.

I have had this confirmed by the Beetle recorder who said; "There is a record from Hebden Bridge, presumably the Craggs, dated 1879".

I had no idea there were 2 such beetles to choose from but fascinated to learn this Small BNB has remained at Blake Dean for the last 137 years without showing itself to passers by!

BNB's wing cases are fused, so they have to walk everywhere and are consequently sedentary. They produce noxious blood droplets when threatened. Food plant is bedstraw and cleavers.

Twite update

Update on Twite from the RSPB - please share widely :

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/biodiversity/archive/2016/11/30/the-twite-aren-t-alright.aspx

Crossbills,28 11 16 Sunderland Plantation

As well as lots of Waxwings in the Country ,there are plenty of Bramblings and also Crossbills and these were seen feeding on Spruce Cones in Sunderland Pasture Plantation,watch out when out and about,it promises to be a bumper Winter,regards Bri.ps me and Ros saw a flock of 50 plus Brambling today 29 11 16 above Cornholme.

Beech disease

There are worries for the many old Beech trees in Epping forest, as their Rhododendrons have been found with Phytophthora Ramorum. This is the same disease that was confirmed in Centre Vale park in Todmorden and Shibden Park Halifax.

There is to be a great effort at Epping forest to prevent the disease spreading to the old Beech and they are going to cut and burn all Rhododendron, which is a prime host and spreader of P. ramorum.

There are old Beech trees in many areas of our valley dying from Phytophthora, yet I see little interest being shown to acknowledge there is a problem.

Waxwings in West Central Halifax

At work today I happened to look up and saw a tight flock of what I at first assumed were Starlings fly between trees at the St Augustines Centre.       I looked to see which berries they were coming for ( there are Hawthorn, Whitebeam, Cotoneaster and Berberis available.)

Then I noticed the unmistakable wispy crests on their heads ! There were about 15 of them and they soon departed over the terraced houses. One of them has been ringed.

On leaving at lunch-time I met Dave W. in Lightowler Road round the corner. He had gone to the wrong place from my directions on the grapevine but struck lucky and we were able to watch at our leisure 20 odd Waxwings in the sunshine. (Lightowler Rd./ Hanson Lane junction.)

Andy H. has since found them or others in the same general area.

It is surprising what a rich bird life exploits these little patches of greenery in town. Today up there I also saw Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and two Goldcrests. I have had a Grey Wagtail in the gardens.

No birds in the picture !

Breeders are Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Robins, Collared Doves, Magpies, Crows, Blue and Great Tits, and a Sparrowhawk has finished off a Feral Pigeon between the cars in the carpark.

I once found a large raptor's tail feather (possible Buzzard) in the car park, but on reflection, it probably fell out of someones door-pocket . . .

RSPB Twite Project Officer

The advert for this short-term role is now live at http://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/job-vacancies/details/433674-project-officer-twite

Very grateful if you could circulate round your networks/share with anyone who might be interested. 

Every walk becomes a fungus foray in November

We were on a Mammal Tracks and Signs walk but were distracted on seeing these Royal ferns along the Ryburn. Frank Murgatroyd wrote about them in this area but never confided exactly where they were. I think these are probably those (about 12 plants, just above the bowling green, on the left bank.)

A view near Rishworth. Unidentified brackets on a Sycamore stump

Impressively muscular roots on a beech. These trees are invading the oakwood in Turner Clough which is unwelcome, but interesting that they are really only the first generation of self-sown beeches, spreading from the 19thC plantations of which we have many in Calderdale. They were planted for timber for furniture and mill equipment, we are told, but apparently never much exploited for this, if at all. 

Another self-sown beech. On this walk we saw several growing out of walls like this. Some animal or bird could be involved in their germination, by storing them away then not eating them. Coal Tits and Nuthatches do this a lot. There is a group of fine Puffballs along the wall top. More fascinating fungi just added to the Mycology blog (tab above.)

The only sign of a mammal we found ! This dropping on a rock in the path was not foul-smelling, but even so, could not definitely to be confirmed as an Otter spraint as it wasn't very fresh. Our friends from the Yorkshire Mammal Group have promised to get back to us after closer examination. They took only a small part of it, as whatever animal made it left it there for a purpose - to mark its territory or pass messages to others of its species

I took a visit to Ogden reservoir as I was passing last Wednesday. No Pintails; they had left, but found the interesting purple jelly organism (see the Mycology Blog.) This is the inlet from Skirden Clough

View of Ryburn Res from Baiting Res embankment.

We really appreciate these views of sombre autumn colours in dim light; they smoulder rather than flare out in fiery colours. (I know I have bits in my camera - got to decide between trying to get it cleaned or buy a new one.)

From this vantage point we noticed parties of starlings coming in and joining into one great feeding flock in the fields. We estimated about 1000 birds. We hung around till nearly dark down at Ryburn Res but didn't see a murmuration, though did see large flocks of finches, Fieldfares, and corvids coming in.

Earlier we found the feathers of a Starling in the snow up at Whiteholme Res. The raptor that had plucked and eaten it had left the upper and lower mandibles of its prey's beak behind, as well as its feathers. 

We often get snow with this wind direction.

Often they say "Snow over the North of England", and it doesn't come.
A reliable indicator that we will get it is when the wind (a wet cold wind) comes in from the north- west.
It powers in across the sea to the north of Northern Ireland, but to the south of the Cumbrian mountains.
Then it has free reign across the Lancashire plain, and our hills are the first ones in its path where it gets forced up into the zone that cools it that bit more and the snow drops out.

Then again, I've seen some almighty drifts created around here by strong easterlies . . . .

(Snow enthusiast Steve, with apologies to those who detest it !)

Wrecked seabird. No corpse available

A seabird thought to be Manx Shearwater was picked up alive outside Walsden on 2nd November, along Rochdale Road towards Summit.

The finder took it to Hirds Vets near there, where they tried to feed it on fish.

Halifax branch of Hirds vet passed it on to the Creature Comforts Animal-aid man, Mike, but despite his best efforts at rehabiltation, it died. I persuaded him to dig it up from where he had buried it but he couldn't find it.

Last record I can find is one in 1962 found exhausted at Causeway Foot and later released at Ogden Reservoir.

There are several old records before this.

Secrets of Mammals

There will be a walk with members of the Mammal Society and Halifax Scientific Society this Sunday 13th November. Meet 10.30am in the road next to Heathfield Preparatory School, Rishworth. Just off Oldham Rd, opposite the bus turning circle and the war memorial. We may not see any animals, but hope to learn about their tracks and signs they leave as evidence they are there.

The value of standing dead wood

Here is a photo of a dead Oak trunk in Cragg Vale woodland. It is riddled with holes that may have been caused by Wood Peckers looking for grubs. It is very important to leave standing dead wood as it supports the high rise community.

They have discovered that Woodpeckers in America carry fungal spores on their beaks, which helps create future holes for them to enjoy!

Butterfly

A Red Admiral landed on our window this morning, then took flight into the shrubbery just as the hail showers started.

Ash Die-Back update

According to new research by University of Essex, the Ash disease may spread more quickly and affect more trees than expected. Even worse, it is possible the fungus may evolve to attack other species such as Privet, Lilac and other members of the Oleaceae family.

Read why here https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/uoe-nwo102716.php

Colden Valley

In the Colden Valley today I walked through the short section that is mainly mature Beech trees. As a contrast to the surrounding mixed woodland it is very attractive. I noticed that a couple of the old trees were suffering badly from bleeding canker, Phytophthora, but not determinable to species without laboratory testing. Many Beech throughout the Calder Valley are dying from the effects of bleeding canker.

                                   Colden Valley Beech trees

                               Bleeding Canker killing the tree

 

                                Another nearby with same disease

 

 

 Porcelain fungus - Oudemansiella mucida, specific to Beech woods

 

 

 

Sycamore cut down but still on its two feet

 

 

 And sending out new growth. Supported sapwood is all it needs to keep character in the woodland.

 

 

 

Ancient Oak Tree

This post, although not about a Calder Valley tree, has relevance to our attitudes to ancient trees.

Whilst travelling on holiday, I prefer to meander down the by-ways and try and see what remains of the countryside. On this occasion there was a rare WOW! moment. At a junction of two quiet lanes there it was, a massive ancient Oak tree that is "well over 400 years old", according to the linked website here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4154805

My photos show a recent large stone inscribed 'Vernons Oak', which must have cost a fortune to quarry and inscribe with gold lettering. I prefer the Gothic Scripted notice board which you can see on Google Street View here:- https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.9233718,-1.7732217,3a,90y,310.1h,77.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7SJ3qUyLuudohp-wUG6pqw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1.

It is very rare for any ancient tree to be marked on a map or have any sign on the ground. Most are 'just there', unrecognised for what they are. Sometimes better for it as 'attention' can often be fatal.

Highways, in their usual casual indifference, have recognised the significance of this rare tree by putting a drunken road sign in front of it.

Someone nearby seems to have a penchant for mowing all the adjacent verge like a lawn. Ancient Trees don't need mowing. As most tree roots are near the surface a dry hot summer can create desert conditions where there is no long grass to keep the soil cool and moist.

According to the link, it is "One of the Counties most celebrated trees". Yet, as you can see from my photos, the tree is struggling to survive. It is surely not a co-incidence the decaying rear of the tree is shaded by the overtopping young Beech trees. If nothing is done, Vernons Oak may well be relegated to the archive as "One of the Counties lost celebrated trees".