Photographs from the past year

 It's been good to get down to the reserve more regularly in the past year or so to enjoy all it has to offer, and to see and hear about the excellent developments in recent years and those to come.  It's always been a great place to visit and looks as though it will thrive even more in the years ahead.  There's been a lot of great work done by many people and they all deserve a huge 'thank you'!

Here's a selection of images from in and around the reserve in the last 12 months:

View across the lagoon

Blue Tit

Robin

Buttercups in The Meadow

Great Tit

Along the canal

Nuthatch

Clover in The Meadow

Young robin moulting into adult plumage

Female Chaffinch

Autumnal foliage in the Small Meadow

RicJ

November 2022 Bird Sightings

Mute Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Mallard, Teal, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting. Late additions from Allan Wolfenden - Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Snipe and Canada Goose.With thanks to Jeff Milne, David Sutcliffe and the Thursday volunteers for sharing their sightings.

October 2022 Bird Sightings

Mute Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wigeon, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting. There was also a report of a merlin on the canal but this sighting has not been confirmed. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Allan Wolfenden and David Sutcliffe for sharing their sightings

September 2022 Bird Sightings

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Teal, Goosander, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch. With thanks to Mike Henshaw and Jeff Milne for sharing their sightings.

Autumn/Winter Newsletter

Val and several other Members have produced another superb publication with our latest Newsletter

Here:-  https://cromwellbottomlnr.co.uk/newsletter-downloads/

  

A few of the locals

 

Moth night

 Is on ..... Tonight 7.30pm start!

See whoever then.

Stonechat

 Found on North Loop

Moth night sat 10th.

 Going to go with 8PM for kick off, with 7.30pm onwards for arrivals. Hopefully no strong winds, or torrential rain.

2 weeks ago species count was 45, and 4weeks ago 58.

MOTH NIGHTS ARE EVERY 2 WEEKS!

We may have a few astronomers, this time, doing their thing. 

See whoever then.

August 2022 Bird Sightings

Mute Swan, Mallard, Goosander, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Dunnock, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, Willow Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw, David Langley and Heather Rajendran for sharing their sightings.

In flight, like the challenge

 

Marsh Tit and Nuthatch.

 

Open Day August 6th 2022

 

CLICK HERE for pictures of our Open Day 2022

Dont forget to click the arrows for video links !

A Hurricane of course

 

What next for Cromwell

 

Brown Hawker laying eggs on North Loop scrape.

 

Moth night sat 13th

 Start time around 10pm, with arrivals from 9.30pm. If we have this heat all week, it should be a stonker with a probability of over 50 species, at this time of year.

Nice spanking visitor centre to view them in, brewing up facilities, toilets, but television is sat nights no1, for most.

Dont watch wildlife on tv - Get out and connect with it.

See whoever then.

Bird Sightings July 2022

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch.With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw and Martin Staples for sharing their sightings.

Get Together

 

 AND...Two days later on Saturday the 6th its our popular OPEN DAY - everyone welcome, Free parking. See Post Below ...

SAVE THE DATE! Your favourite event is soon to be here: CROMWELL BOTTOM LOCAL NATURE RESERVE OPEN DAY!  (click the pages to enlarge the posters)

Not only do we have M.G.Leonard, the winner of many awards for children's crime fiction, especially the book TWITCH (based at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve) but all manner of events - Birds of Prey are back, Pond Dipping is back, Guided Walks are back, as well as the raffle, stalls, you name it - join us for the event!  Meet the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Calderdale Badgers, and many other local groups!  Please share widely - invite family, friends, acquaintances. 

A DAY NOT TO BE MISSED!

Compound pond

 

Some of our young Pheasants

 

Orchid Count 2022

The result of the annual Orchid Count on 23rd June 2022 was a grand total of 503 orchids. The number is encouraging, as it far exceeds the years since 2018. Last year's total was 164. 

Many thanks to Jen for the original post.

Female Emperor laying eggs

 

Dragonflies. Emperor and Broad-bodied Chaser

 

Bird Sightings June 2022

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wren, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Raven, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw, David Langley and David Sutcliffe for sharing their sightings.

Moth nights

 Obviously due to official cabin closure etc, moth nights wont be available this evening, as would have happened.

When the new gaff is sorted and officially open to public again, the cromwell bottom "bright star" will be shining in the darkness once more! And the bats can snack away again, when its left unattended for a few minutes.

It really will be 5* mothing then.

Moth night sat 18th

 Got to be 10pm start time now, with 9.30pm on, for arrivals.

Another 22 species were observed 2wks ago, all in pristine condition. Hope it's not windy or too cold, it should be a bumper crop!

See whoever then.

Hurricane flying over Cromwell Bottom Saturday afternoon

 

Bird Sightings May 2022

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestre, Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Swift, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw and David Sutcliffe for sharing their sightingsw.

Moth night sat 4th

 I think 9.30 arrivals for 10.00pm start this time, summer must be here! 

Last time we had a decent haul,

Tachystola acroxantha, large twin spot, green carpet, and straw dot, before it got dark.

Eudonia mercurella, flame carpet, pebble hook tip, white spotted pug, grey birch,poplar hawk moth, silver ground carpet, white ermine, pale tussock, flame shoulder, brightline brownleye, pebble prominent, clouded drab, ingrained clay, ancylis bandana, lesser swallow prominent, common white wave, and common swift, all came after dark and mostly around the lamp.

22 in just a couple of hours, it's that time of year now, anything can arrive and haul numbers are unguessable.

So sit watching the tv or go hands on with nature and get down for a moth night.

See whoever then.

Moth night sat 21st

9pm arrivals for 9.30pm start, usual clothing for weather and a torch is all you need.

Any mild nights now and they are out in numbers.

Just for the record - tonight was the first time SWIFTS are over my house this year. They arrived today!

See whoever on sat.

40 Years Ago at Cromwell - Brighouse Echo