Images from recent walks around the reserve

                                                              Green Veined White

                                                                          Hoverfly

                                                                              Ditto

                                                                           Juv Mink.

                                                                   Meadow Brown on ragwort

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                       Ditto

                                                               Small Skipper

                                                            Small Skipper on grass seed head

                                                    Small Skipper feeding on clover

                                                                 Speckled Wood

                                                                    Gatekeeper

                                                                       Hoverfly

                                                                Gatekeeper on Ragwort

                                                              Common Darter Dragonfly

                                                                Willow Warbler

Butterfly Count and grasses, July 26th 2014

Around 30 members and visitors met in the car park on another very warm day. The conditions were perfect - sunny and calm. We split into two groups and covered most of the Nature Reserve in three hours. Butterflies were in abundance all over the reserve.

Some of the party assembles to decide on the route

Back over the Bailey Bridge. A grey wagtail was on the river and two well grown goosanders were seen near the weir

We met at the bird feeding station for some refreshments.

Peacock

Small Skipper

Denise Howorth took these super pictures of three of the butterfly species

A full list of butterflies and grasses will be published later 

Speckled Wood

Bird Report: 2011/2012. Another chance to buy one

 Geoff Smith from the bird group will be down at Cromwell Bottom, bird feeding station or if raining in the car park, between 11 am and 12 noon this Saturday 26th July if anyone would like to purchase a combined 2011/2012 report from him.
£6.50 per copy (please have the correct change if possible) - a good interesting and informative reference. 
Cash preferred OR a cheque made payable to C B C G (Calderdale Bird Conservation Group)

Saturday 26th July

Annual Butterfly Count at Cromwell Bottom   

Meet Steve Blacksmith from Halifax Scientific Society
and Graham Haigh from Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group in Cromwell Bottom car
park    More info ...

Bird Report 2011/2012

Geoff Smith from the bird group will be down at Cromwell Bottom, bird feeding station or if rainy in the car  park, between 11am and 12 noon this Sunday 20th July if anyone would like to purchase a combined 2011/2012 report from him.

£6.50 per copy (please have the correct change if possible) - a good interesting and informative reference.
Cash preferred OR a cheque made payable to C B C G (Calderdale Bird Conservation Group)

Well done to Nick D for collating the records and putting it together so well. Thanks to Geoff for making these available on site (unless it's pouring down !.)

I can personally recommend this publication. A great deal of work has gone into this and is well worth purchasing for two years records. Bruce (CBWG)

David (CBCG)

Work party 12th July 2014

14 volunteers came along to help clear some of the remaining balsam. They were:- Allan, Am, Bella, Bruce, David, Graham, Joe, John, Julian, Mike, Richard, Shelagh, Simon and Stuart. The day became very hot and humid in amongst the trees but a great deal was achieved with the help of "slashers" and just pulling the balsam. The party split into several groups. Some cleared the path edges.

Its early but already very warm

David shows Joe the overgrown path edges

Our next Committee meeting is this Wednesday  evening July 16th

Meet at 7:30 pm on site in the car park. We will be strolling around the site to discuss future projects. This is an ideal opportunity for those who would like to explore the site with experienced guides. All welcome.

From The Undergrowth

Bird id required please this was at Cromwell yesterday .Sorry about the poor quality as i only had my macro lens on and it was just about to start raining.  gwh

From The Undergrowth

Just a few from the last week.

Medow Brown

ditto

Broard Boddied Chaser

Black Tailed Skimmer i think

Red Admiral

Comma

ditto

Mating blue Daneselfly's

Ringlet

Blue Damesel

gwh

Bird id required please

Taken up by the old mooland pub on the way to fly flats not sure what it is may be just a common but looked a bit different. gwh

From the open growth.

With burnet moths on the go now for a week or two at Copley and my local cemetery I thought I'd pay a visit to Tag meadow on Monday to see the spectacular numbers on show there. Normally they number in to their hundreds across the entire meadow so I was more than a little surprised to see..........none at all! 

Has anyone else seen them here this year?

Most photos I took were of flighty moths and butterflies so only these two escaped the re-cycle bin. Also seen were lots of Shaded Broad-bars and a single Latticed Heath.

Straw Dot

Crambus pascuella.