AND...Two days later on Saturday the 6th its our popular OPEN DAY - everyone welcome, Free parking. See Post Below ...

SAVE THE DATE! Your favourite event is soon to be here: CROMWELL BOTTOM LOCAL NATURE RESERVE OPEN DAY!  (click the pages to enlarge the posters)

Not only do we have M.G.Leonard, the winner of many awards for children's crime fiction, especially the book TWITCH (based at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve) but all manner of events - Birds of Prey are back, Pond Dipping is back, Guided Walks are back, as well as the raffle, stalls, you name it - join us for the event!  Meet the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Calderdale Badgers, and many other local groups!  Please share widely - invite family, friends, acquaintances. 

A DAY NOT TO BE MISSED!

Compound pond

 

Some of our young Pheasants

 

Orchid Count 2022

The result of the annual Orchid Count on 23rd June 2022 was a grand total of 503 orchids. The number is encouraging, as it far exceeds the years since 2018. Last year's total was 164. 

Many thanks to Jen for the original post.

Female Emperor laying eggs

 

Dragonflies. Emperor and Broad-bodied Chaser

 

Bird Sightings June 2022

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wren, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Raven, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw, David Langley and David Sutcliffe for sharing their sightings.

Moth nights

 Obviously due to official cabin closure etc, moth nights wont be available this evening, as would have happened.

When the new gaff is sorted and officially open to public again, the cromwell bottom "bright star" will be shining in the darkness once more! And the bats can snack away again, when its left unattended for a few minutes.

It really will be 5* mothing then.

Moth night sat 18th

 Got to be 10pm start time now, with 9.30pm on, for arrivals.

Another 22 species were observed 2wks ago, all in pristine condition. Hope it's not windy or too cold, it should be a bumper crop!

See whoever then.

Hurricane flying over Cromwell Bottom Saturday afternoon

 

Bird Sightings May 2022

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestre, Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Swift, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw and David Sutcliffe for sharing their sightingsw.

Moth night sat 4th

 I think 9.30 arrivals for 10.00pm start this time, summer must be here! 

Last time we had a decent haul,

Tachystola acroxantha, large twin spot, green carpet, and straw dot, before it got dark.

Eudonia mercurella, flame carpet, pebble hook tip, white spotted pug, grey birch,poplar hawk moth, silver ground carpet, white ermine, pale tussock, flame shoulder, brightline brownleye, pebble prominent, clouded drab, ingrained clay, ancylis bandana, lesser swallow prominent, common white wave, and common swift, all came after dark and mostly around the lamp.

22 in just a couple of hours, it's that time of year now, anything can arrive and haul numbers are unguessable.

So sit watching the tv or go hands on with nature and get down for a moth night.

See whoever then.

Moth night sat 21st

9pm arrivals for 9.30pm start, usual clothing for weather and a torch is all you need.

Any mild nights now and they are out in numbers.

Just for the record - tonight was the first time SWIFTS are over my house this year. They arrived today!

See whoever on sat.

40 Years Ago at Cromwell - Brighouse Echo

 

Wheatear. April 28 th.

 

Whinchat. 07/05/2022 North Loop

 

Bird Sightings April 2022

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Teal, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfishe, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Wheatear, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Tawny Owl. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw, Allan Wolfenden and Dave Sutcliffe for sharing their sightings.

Moth night sat 7th

 Arrivals from 9.00pm for a start time of 9.30pm should do it. Usual clothes for weather and a torch.

Two weeks ago on a cold breezy night we had :

1 x herald, 1 x flame carpet, 3 x common Quaker, 1 x powdered quaker, 1 x small quaker, and 1 x early tooth striped.

Not too bad for the weather that night.

See whoever then.

CLICK HERE for our Spring/Summer 2022 Newsletter

Moth night 23rd

 Same as last week, 8.30pm arrivals for a 9.00pm start. Usual ... clothes for weather and a torch. Looking like it may be a good night again.

See whoever then.

Red Kite. Lunchtime today.Very high and drifting S/E

 

Moth night Sat 16th

 Yes we had one last week and there is another std one next week.

Its Easter, weathers looking good, so we are slipping one in this week for fun. Last time weather was good we had an eruption of early species, good chance of a similar night this time.

Arrivals from 8.30pm  for 9.00pm start.

If your doing nothing sat, get down and check the wildlife out, instead of watching naked attraction.

Clothing for weather and torch are all you need, net if you have one.

Last week was a bit brassic, little breezy and open sky with moon. We had 4 species last week:  aganopterix heracliana, hebrew character, clouded drab, and a totally battered pug, probably a brindled, but I'm not brave enough to call it.

See whoever then.

Bird Sightings March 2022

Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Raven, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting. With thanks to Jeff Milne, Mike Henshaw and Dave Sutcliffe for their contributions.

Moth night sat 9th

 Nearly forgot to post. 8.00pm arrivals for 8.30pm start. Clothing for weather and torch is all you need.

12 species last time on a near perfect night for it. Weather is a little uncertain this time.

See whoever then.