A Visit To The Feeding Area

Thursday 23/10/2014

 Redpoll

 Great Tit

 Male Chaffinch

 Blue Tit

Jay

More Images from the Maasai Mara from Allan

If you have had breakfast then click here! for more stunning shots from Africa.

Next Meeting

Saturday the  8th of November - Cromwell Bottom Practical Day.

We will be reed cutting along the edge of the lagoon. All welcome to come along. Meet at 09:30 in the car park.

Green Sandpiper & Water Rail confirmed!

I have heard through numerous channels now that we had a visiting Green Sandpiper & also water Rail was seen.
Sometimes people can be sceptical at times especially with Water Rail sightings.
But thanks to modern technology especially digital cameras, positive ID's can be shown to all.
Over on the Calderdale Bird Blog they have some more than adequate record shots of both species, displaying clearly, all the necessary features to ID both species without a doubt.
Please have a look! - I hope they don't mind me linking in so we can enjoy them.

http://calderbirds.blogspot.co.uk/

Whooper Swans

A long shot of the 4 Whoopers that turned up on the Ski Lake on the 12th Oct.

Bird Viewing Area developments

As someone who is unable to help with any of the physical work in maintaining Cromwell Bottom, I'd like to thank all those who have recently worked on the developments at the Bird Viewing Area. It is much improved from both a photography and bird-watching point of view, in my opinion.

I'm looking forward to some very productive visits with my camera over the next few months, and will post the better images on here in due course.

Ric J

Today at the Reserve

19 of us assembled in the car park on another glorious October day. Robin gave us the customary safety talk as we were itching to get started. Present were:- Alan, Allan, Barry, Bella, Bruce, Colin, David, Graham, Joe, John, Julian, Lucy, Mike, Paul, Richard, Robin, Shelagh, Simon, and Susan, with apologies for any omission.

We had various tasks to do. Bruce, Lucy and David did some survey work (very technical) at the dipping pond. One of the long fences was repaired and made firmer by Robin and his team. Hay was collected and stacked from one of the meadows and the Bird Feeding Station was upgraded and improved. Pictures below mainly of the feeding station.

One of several skeins of Pink-footed goose that flew over. Click on image and count them. I made it 116 ish.





Spider (Linyphia)  webs were everywhere.

Some of these old stumps were pretty heavy. They will be rich in invertebrate life and help feed many of the birds that will visit the feeding station during the coming months.










Barry drilled holes for seeds to attract various species.

Dipper on the Weir

Photo of this dipper on the weir, spotted by graham as he's got better eyes than me-:

                                           Woodpecker on feeders on wednesday

Reminder

Just a quick reminder that there is a work party tomorrow October 11th at Cromwell Bottom. Meet between 09:00 and 09:30 in the car park. All welcome.

A Few pic's from last Thursday

  A few pics from last  Thursday-:

Geology Walk at Howarth and talk at Halifax Fire Station

I know it is a work party Saturday, but if anyone looking in would like to learn more about our local rock, the millstone grit, you are very welcome to attend a walk with us led by West Yorkshire Geology Trust on 11th Oct at 1.30pm. See Calderdale Wildlife blog link for more details.

This is followed by a talk on the Lake District's geology on Tuesday 14th at 7.15pm. Again see the other blog linked above.

From the undergrowth

Hi all a few from today , Grey Wagtails in abundance this morning as well as Dipper , Heron and GSW. I now know what is breaking the  wire on the feeders as i saw her do it this morning.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

ditto

ditto

Heron

Grey Wagtail with water halo, just timed this right (lucky)

ditto

ditto

gwh

From the Undergrowth

Hi all a few from the last few days and some from this morning to follow hope you enjoy.

Juv Goldfinch

Great Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Coal Tit

I'm calling this one Pavarotti  as he was leading the choir

Dipper

Dipper

1st October 2014

More finds whilst walking Basil around the reserve.

Marsh Webcap (Cortinarius uliginosus) above and four below.

Found under Salix.

They have bright yellow gills that gradually turn orange/red as they mature.

Yellow Fieldcap (Bolbitius titubans) above and below.

Birch Knight (Tricholoma fulvum).

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria).

Nipplewort (Lapsana communis).

Peppery Bolete (Chalciporus piperatus) above and two below.

The tubes do not significantly change colour when bruised.

The base of the stipe is sulphur yellow.

Brown Birch Bolete (Leccinum scabrum). The stipe had been eaten by slugs so I found it lying on the ground.

Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum).