Some Cromwell Birds

       

                 A few pics of the Cromwell birds on my last visits-:

Parliament debate!

I am currently listening to the Parliament Debate for Banning Driven Grouse Shooting!


Here is the link so you can listen to it yourself! Beware it's hrs long!


http://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/0b841a46-eb3d-44b3-83b7-9500482b6d92


It's for those interested & a reasonable insight to How things get discussed.


There are arguments for both sides & You can make your own minds up which ones are correct!


Just watch out for those Bull Elephants this winter! (If you watched enough you'll know what I mean)

This Saturday the 5th of November Meeting

Dear all
The meeting this coming Saturday the 5th of November is unfortunately cancelled as the Footbridge will be closed due to nearby works. This cannot be helped as the work is essential.  Access is available via "Avocet" or Rastrick and Elland.

There will be full access (hopefully) next Saturday the 12th when we need as many volunteers as possible to clear reeds from the Lagoon.

Wellies advised. Hot drinks / Refreshments in the Cabin. Meet at 9:30 am
at the Cabin or car park.

Meeting tomorrow Sunday October 30th All Welcome. FREE

Meet the Members at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve FREE
Sunday, 30 October 2016 10:00 am @ Cromwell Bottom, HD6 2RG

10am to 3.30pm Meet members of the Group who will be happy to tell you about the Reserve, its remarkable variety of wildlife, projects and events, and their work as volunteers on the site. The Reserve is located off the A6025 Brighouse to Elland Road (follow the brown LNR signs). Parking is free.   Refreshments will be available. There are toilets by the Cabins.

Brighouse Festival Tuesday Walk

We held the first of our planned walks around the reserve today. Thirteen people attended the walk, including two children. The afternoon was bright and sunny, it was a splendid day to be out celebrating all things autumnal. After the walk, which took about 90 minutes, we went back to the cabin for refreshments. A big thank you for all those who came to help. We will be holding another walk on Thursday, starting at 1:00pm.

Early Autumn birds at the feeding station

A few of the birds that were round and about the feeders last Saturday.  A jay and great spotted woodpecker kept out of camera range.  And, at the weir, a pair of mallards and a teal.  Enjoy!

bullfinch

chaffinch (m)

great tit

coal tit

blue tit

long-tailed tit

dunnock

chaffinch (f)

Ric Jackson

Brighouse Festival events

Hi all to all those wishing to come to the events around the reserve for the Brighouse Festival it is free if you wish to come to the reserve direct as we do NOT charge for anything around the reserve ,it is by donation only ,if you have booked through the Festival organisers this is there booking fee for administration and not us , I hope this is ok . Yours Graham

We're part of the Brighouse Festival!

Brighouse Festival runs from 22nd to 30th October with lots of different events in the town. Cromwell Bottom is doing its bit to make sure there's plenty of variety in the mix by offering 3 separate activities during the week.

Here's the full list of what's on [correct at 13th October, but do check their website for updates]

http://www.brighousefestival.co.uk/whatson-brighouse-festival/

There is some confusion regarding our events. The Brighouse Festival states that there is a £2:00 charge to visit our Reserve. This is incorrect, we NEVER charge and never have. All are welcome to come along as normal for FREE.

Our guided walks are popular with visitors and in October we'll be seeing more winter birds at our feeders, hopefully plenty of colour in the trees and maybe some interesting fungi. Our friendly walk leaders have lots of interesting information to share so we hope you can make a visit.

Making Progress.... Saturday's working day.

There was a very good turn out of volunteers, including some newer faces this week. We took delivery of the components for the pond dipping platform so it was all hands on deck to carry it all, plank by plank, from the car park to the reserve, and here's  the reason why: as you can see we have no vehicle access yet, so it was all carried in across the footbridge.

The contractors are working hard to get the new bridge built, although progress seems slow there is a huge amount of work done already. They are very patient and accommodating with us when we need to access the reserve during working hours - thank you guys!

Repairs are under way at the bird viewing area to get ready for winter visitors - birds and people.

Robin led a team of path clearers to make sure that we keep the wheelchair access paths in good shape - sorry no photos of this, but they made the path seem twice as wide!

Work Party Saturday October 8th

Dear all

There is a Work Party this Saturday. Please meet either in the car park or at
the Cabin as normal at 09:30.
Refreshment available in the Cabin. Toilets next door.

All welcome

Kingfisher

Come back and pose

There not as good as Allan's and Barry's but am well proud of these taken today on the river near the weir.

Brighouse 1st Guides

Last night 11 Guides and two Leaders came along on a very warm and pleasant evening stroll. Aimee led the guides along to the Lagoon where Pipistrelle bats were calling. Then a short walk to the canal and Daubenton's bats were seen and heard. There were plenty flying insects for them to feed on. Most of the Guides had never seen or heard bats before.  After a really nice walk they left at around 8:30pm
We used  bat detectors supplied by the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group.

We would like to thank Aimee for organising this meeting and look forward to our next one.

Our Chair, Allan, giving the guides a quick talk

At the Bailey Bridge

Along the Lagoon Bund

On the Canal Bridge

This Thursday Evening

There will be another short walk this Thursday evening the 15th of September. Aimee will be leading this along with members of Cromwell Bottom. 

This will be a gentle walk listening to the local bats especially along the river and canal. 
Please bring a torch for your own safety. Meet at 6:45pm for a 7:00 pm start.  Approx 8:30 pm finish.
Refreshments in the Cabin.

Work party and Bat Walk This Saturday September 10th

There is a work party at Cromwell Bottom September the 10th. please meet at 09:30 in the car park. Refreshments in the Cabin.

Also we will meet at 7:30 pm. We are having another of our popular bat walks. On our walk last Wednesday we had over 30 people listening and seeing bats around the reserve. 
Please meet in the car park at 7:30 pm. 

Also we will be moth trapping. The moths will be identified either Saturday night (late) and Sunday morning from 10am onwards.

Don't forget to bring a torch. Refreshments will be available in the Cabin.

Cromwell Kids

I was going to put up snaps of the birds at the feeders .... But they have been done already & that might be boring.
A lot of people have been coming into the Cabin/Café on Sundays & telling us about their short encounters with Kingfishers mostly along the Canal, on the river & even at the two new ponds on Tag Loop. Yes that's correct! they have been visiting those two ponds at the side of the path that you walk past.
There are a few places along the Canal - where if you look really carefully, one of the young Kingfishers are sat watching you. But you need to look! they can be easy to walk past, are not too bothered by you, & don't always fly off to give away their presence.
Check any sticks poking out of the far bank especially around any reedy areas, they like the food that hangs out in the shallows.


 Here are a few half decent shots of a couple of our Kingfisher's Kids.

 Keeping an eye out on the sky - Don't want to be eaten yourself!

 Something just moved?

 Anyone got a comb?

 Wassat!!! Another Kingfisher just shot past!

 Gotchya - But what do I do now?

 

Ah .... Toss it, catch & swallow!

Don't know what this is but I'm having it for afters!

Keep your eyes peeled! Bring binoculars with you & if you spot them before they spot you - then you can have a good look at the birds instead of just the blue flash flying away.

They are very VOCAL at the moment too - letting each other know they are around.

Hope you enjoy the snaps - I love taking pictures of this species.

more about bats....

The bat walks are a great chance to visit Cromwell Bottom after dark in company with a group of people. Last time our best sightings of bats were from the bridges over the river and also from Cromwell Lock on the canal, but we "heard" them in several other places via our bat detectors as we walked through the reserve.

If you'd like to get to know more about bats have a look at the Bat Conservation Trust:
http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/all_about_bats.html

Bird Feeding Area Photos

Lots of birds are now begining to come to the feeding station at the cabin, some of them looking very scuffy.

                                                          Bullfinch (Juv)

                                                    Bullfinch (m) in moult

                                     Greenfinch. (Juv) Several are now visiting the feeders.

                                                               Blue Tit

                                                        Goldfinch (Juv)

                                                     Great Tit in moult

                                                                  Woodpidgeon

                                    Chaffinch (Juv) Quite a number are coming in to feed

                                                                 Chaffinch (m)

                                                         Chaffinch (Juv) Poss male

                                                                   Nutatch

               Longtailed Tit. These wonderful little birds are now popping in to feed again.

Footpath Closure

Notice on the car park fence to say that the footbridge will be closed on mon 5th Sept just for that day.