Crafty hour at the bird viewing area

AUTUMN HALF TERM

We don't have anything special planned for this half term as far as I know, but here are a few ideas for any families visiting the reserve.....

There's a lot more to Cromwell Bottom than meets the eye!

• Try some old fashioned fun - swooshing through the fallen leaves, wellies highly recommended! Take a few leaves home and make some artwork.
• Enjoy the beautiful autumn colours around the reserve - and don't forget to look across the canal to the woodland rising up to Southowram - a real treat for the eyes especially if you get a sunny day.
• Have a look at progress around our newly re-excavated pond - it will be a real treat if your family likes mud...... It looks quite a mess probably at the moment, but we're getting it into shape for a great year of activities from Spring onwards. If you bring your dog please keep it out of the water so that insect eggs and hibernating creatures are not disturbed - they need all the help they can get in the current upheaval!
• Spot the birdboxes - they are empty now, but easy to see, so when you come back in Spring and they are hidden by leaves you'll still know where to look, won't you?
• Find some fungi - Autumn is a good time to see lots of different ones - some on the ground, some on trees. How many can you spot? Use a camera and identify them when you get home, and remember, don't touch! 
• Bring a picnic and a flask - we can't offer refreshments yet, but we're working on it.
• send us some pictures and stories of what you've seen and done - follow the "Welcome" link at the top of the page.

And finally, I haven't mentioned the birds yet..... They'll all be using the feeding areas as winter moves in, so wrap up warm, settle in for a while and enjoy your visit. Any of our volunteers will try to answer your questions about Cromwell Bottom - just turn up and ask!

Happy half term!

Todays Visit

            Visited with the wife today with no great expectations but
            was pleasantly surprised with 3 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk,
            and a Dipper showing and a certain GH ignoring our wave as
            he passed us in the car park lol.

             3 Kingfisher
             3 Nuthatch
             2 GSW one not seen but heard drumming
             1 Dipper
             2 Cormorant flyover
             8 Long Tailed Tit
             1 Sparrowhawk flythrough at the viewing area
             3 Robin
             4 Dunnock
             Lots of Great, Coal and Blue Tit
             6 Chaffinch
             2 Redpoll.
             and 2 cyclists that actually adhered to the notices which was
             a nice change.

           

In search of autumn

The reserve was very quiet - both birds and people - late yesterday afternoon.  There's still plenty of green around, but the full autumnal colours can't be too far off.

Dipping Pond

Our dipping pond was dug out over a two day period this week. Here are a few of the pictures. 

This is being constructed for school visits and other organised events to learn about life in and around ponds.

                     More pictures here

Saturday the 17th of October 2015

There will be a Fungus/Identification Foray at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve on Saturday the 17th of October led by Alison Galbraith. Please meet in the public carpark at 10:00 am for a couple of hours foraying.

Amanita muscaria

Fly Agaric

Nice walk round today plenty at the viewing table ie Woodpecker, siskin, Jay,Nuthatch and plenty more

Autumn colours to come

About to turn

Took a walk along the canal from Brighouse and into the reserve yesterday.  The trees are just showing signs of turning. Potentially, there could be some wonderful colour around in the next few weeks.  Worth pointing the camera at?

Active Cromwell

      Paid a visit today and I'm glad I did there was plenty to see,
      nice to see the Siskins back and the Nuthatch using the viewing
      area also lots of Jay's flying about. Members of the canal and
      river trust were handing out leaflets on the canal and 3 CBNR members
      were working hard at the cabin area GH, DL, and Bruce.

                          Lots of Blue, Coal & Great Tits
                          8 Long Tailed Tit
                          5 Jay, 1 Bullfinch, 4 Siskin, lots of Chaffinch
                          8 Goosander flyover, 1 GSW, 2 Wren, 4 Canada, 2 Moorhen
                          4 Mallard, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Raven.