This Months Echo Piece

From The Undergrowth

On the January 24th 12 young lady's plus helpers from the 4th Rastrick brownies

Brighouse, came along to the reserve for the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch . At 9:30 it was pouring down, but as the girls

arrived at 10:00 am their smiling faces drove away the clouds and the day became

bright and sunny. The girls were ably led by Gail their Brown Owl. Lots of birds came

down to the feeders that the Brownies had made and hung up around the feeding area.

 As we left for a walk around the reserve a Yellow Brain fungus was found on the

nearby fence, as we walked members of the group answered questions and told of the

history of the area including Tag Cut the canal that was built around 1776 making it one of the earliest

canals built

On the reserve the sustained cold weather is bringing in more birds to the feeding

station as the natural food supply diminishes. Larger numbers of Bullfinch, Blue Tit and

Great Tit are visiting the feeders along with Dunnock, Chaffinch and a few Redpoll plus

Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and up towards Southowram Common Buzzard circle, also the

ever present Robins running under foot as you sit and watch but we have no Siskins this

year although there are a few around they are not coming to the feeders .

A member of our group was sat having his afternoon coffee when there was a loud bang

on the window, when he looked outside laid on the floor was a female Sparrowhawk.

This was an opportunity for Bruce to try out his First Aid skills newly acquired on a

group course in December, after a few minutes of care the bird revived and looked none

the worse for her accident and a few moments later she flew away unscathed leaving

Bruce with a few marks on his hand from her sharp talons as he let the bird go from the

wrong hand, the one without the glove.   ( silly man )

A lady reported what she thought was a young swan in distress ,further investigation

found the swan was alright and it had a ring on it's leg from this number it was found

that this is a young swan which flew into Horton Country Park about 12/11/14 where

it was ringed by Dan Sidley. Later it was with 690,691 and 887 at Harold park. Those

three are part of this years Park Dam brood. Two of them are back there now.

this shows that small pieces of information can be invaluable

Robin and Hugh from Calderdale Countryside Services have submitted a three year

plan for North Loop the twenty acre restoration site adjoining the reserve, if the plan is

adopted, trees shrubs and wild flower seed will be needed, plus a lot of hard work but

hopefully it will be another Calderdale success.

Out and about there have been sightings of Brambling at krumlin and Manor Heath,

 Great Northern Diver at Mixenden Reservoir , Curlew ,Golden Plover, Lapwings , Feidfare, Redwing,and Buzzard

up at Jay House Lane  .

 Keep your eyes to the sky's as there are large numbers of Pink foot geese on the move.

A visit to Mere Sands and Martin Mere gave us some great views of Little Egret as well as Pintail Duck when

seen close up are quite stunning, as well as Goldeneye another good looking Bird . GWH, DL