A few pics from today

B/B WOOD

Iron Stream

Bath time under the feeders

Sun Bathing

Tag ( never seen it as full )

Reed Bed looking good in the sun

Tree Walk

Bee

Gorse

just click on the image to see full view.     yours  gwh

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail by the ski ramp Saturday afternoon

Yellow Wagtail and Red Kites

One of the Red Kites spotted by Mike Henshaw

A Yellow Wagtail was near the ski lake today - an uncommon sight in Calderdale - from David.


Also two Red Kites were drifting over nearby Brighouse this morning by Mike

Walk this Saturday, April 28th 2012

There is a walk starting/finishing at Cromwell Bottom this Saturday, starting at 10:30 from the car park. Topside, its 6 miles long (more likely 4-5 miles) and entitled ‘SpringWatch’. Please feel free to come as we would appreciate anyone who has an ear tuned into bird song! Click for MAP

Robin

MEMBERSHIP NOW OPEN

If you have enjoyed the seeing the birds either on the feeders or on the web site help us to feed them by becoming a member of our group, the feeders cost approx £30- £40 a month during winter to keep up to, this has been coming out of our own pockets not out of the group funds which are slim, so MEMBERSHIP is now open and is £10 for the year (family membership £15) April to April. For this you will receive a news letter 4 times a year and you will be able to access the members only page on the web site. Your £10 will help us buy feed in bulk and save costs, (one £10 memberships will buy a large bag of bird seed) you will also notice on the blog other forms of fund raising ideas coming up, if you can help please do. Because of the data protection act the only way I can do this is to give you my e-mail address which is gwhaigh@blueyonder.co.uk  if you can send me an e-mail with either your e-mail address or a telephone number I will give you an address to send your Membership / donations to, and if you want to gift aid us some extra we will gladly accept.

Cromwell Bottom

Hartshead, near Cromwell Bottom

Yellowhammer in full song at Hartshead near the reserve a day ago.

Filmed by Chris Burns.

Deer Skull

This deer skull was found on 17th of March 2012





Probably Roe deer unless someone knows different??

Members only Site

Further to Graham's Post.  You will need to register your email as with any blog. Once registered you only need to click on the link from this site. Please remember this is a Member only site and may contain sensitive information. Known paid up members have already been contacted.

This is the link to the Members only Site.

Help Feed The Birds

If you have enjoyed the seeing the birds either on the feeders or on the web site help us to feed them by becoming a member of our group, the feeders cost approx £30- £40 a month to keep up to, this has been coming out of our own pockets not out of the group funds which are slim, so MEMBERSHIP is now open and is £5 for the year April to April. For this you will get a members card a news letter twice a year and we are working on a members only page on the web site. Your £5 will help us buy feed in bulk and save costs, (two £5 memberships will buy a large bag of bird seed) you will also notice on the blog other forms of fund raising ideas coming up, if you can help please do. Because of the data protection act the only way I can do this is to give you my e-mail address which is gwhaigh@blueyonder.co.uk  if you can send me an e-mail with either your e-mail address or a telephone number I will give you an address to send your funds to and if you want to gift aid us some extra we will gladly accept. We have been given a large porta cabin which is in need of a lot TLC and will hopefully become a drop in / meeting area but we require funds to do this also. We have a long term plan for the site but without funds its not going to happen, please help . Yours Graham

Newts

Smooth (or Common) Newt, previously only known from Cromwell Bottom, has now been found high up at Todmorden, at Sourhall, by Charles Flynn.

Pictures of Palmate Newts in Pellon on Calderdale Wildlife Blog.    Link to Newts.

Volunteer Tuesday

Around a dozen volunteers braved the heavy showers to finish planting the remainder of almost a thousand saplings on the site. Many more projects are in hand and these will be advertised on the blog.

Well done to all concerned.

Cromwell

If anybody gets the Halifax Courier there's a piece on page 4 i think from Colin our new media man and very good it is if you get chance have a look. yours Gwh

Short notice Site Meeting

The remainder of the trees will be planted tomorow - Tuesday,  April 17th  at 10:00 am. Meet at the car park.    As always bring boots and gloves and something to eat and drink if you intend to stay until the afternoon.


Regards


Robin

Avocet

A visit to "Avocet"  fishing lake produced 2 mute swan, 1 G.C. Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted duck and Canada goose.

The woodland had 6 Jays making a din, GS Woodpecker, Blackcap, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff plus the usual species, also my first Speckled wood this year, the Bluebells were putting on a fine display.

Fire Station Meeting

A reminder that the next indoor meeting is this Tuesday April 17th at the Halifax Fire Station, King Cross at 7:30 pm. Park at the front- Link. All Welcome. Refreshments.

A Tight Squeeze

Allan sent these pictures taken a few days ago of Blackthorn, Blue tits, Bull Finch and Lesser Redpoll.

Grasshopper Warbler

Report of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler close to the feeding station yesterday the 6th of April from Connie, John and Daniel.

Early April

Blackthorn

Sunday April 1st. Blackthorn was looking good along the river side today, also a seven spot ladybird on the fence, an uncommon sight recently. Several Field Horsetail  were appearing (Thanks Emma for the I.D.), and in Strangstry Wood a few bluebells were showing - first were 24/3 - as the wood faces north west they are usually later than those in Park Wood across the other side of the site. Several migrant birds are back, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, Sand and House Martin.

Field Horsetail  Equisetum arvense 

Seven spot ladybird

A Walk Around the Reserve

Saturday 31st March. As I walked round the reserve there were lots of chiff-chaffs (6) Heard two Willow Warblers singing and saw my first Black Cap(Male)  plus 1 Red poll on the feeders. Is this the last of these winter visitors? Any more sighting of them? It will be intesting to try to document when they leave. The niger seed I am putting down is certainly lasting longer.

Allan