Bridge opening this weekend

The bridge will be open on Saturday and Sunday the plan was to close it on Saturday but weather conditions made a change nessesary there will be working on Sunday but the bridge will be open for this weekend . If anyone is coming to the Photo day tomorrow meet in the cabin at 10am . Yours Graham

PHOTOGRAPHY DAYS

Saturday 25th of February     10am - 2pm

Come along to expert photography tuition for all ages, abilities and camera types. Followed by tea, coffee and home-made produce!

Apparently  The Footbridge will be OPEN all Saturday. So please meet as normal in the Cromwell Bottom Car Park at 10:00am

        No need to book - just come along to the Cabin

Bird Survey

CROMWELL BOTTOM NATURE RESERVE’S BIRD SURVEY February 18th 2017

The February bird survey on the 18th enjoyed far better weather. The sun shone, there was only a light wind and it was mild. The birds obviously enjoyed it because there were larger numbers of birds, though not species. ( 31 rather than30 )

Rather more of the reserve was covered even though there were only 5 participants. However we still did not see a jay; but Mike Henshaw and Steve Midgley did see a MALE HEN HARRIER passing through; the first time one has been seen on the reserve (we think) After several texts it was confirmed as a Calderdale sighting to enter the record book,

Rather mundane, the flocks of redwings were not seen, possible left on their journey north.

Song thrushes were starting to sing as where wrens, dunnocks and robins, who were in full song.

As many as 13 grey herons were ‘put-up’ by something and were all seen together in the sky. Several of them were seen earlier carrying nesting material. The great spotted woodpecker made an appearance at the feeding station, as did 6 reed bunting. Good views of 3 wigeon were finally had on the river

Mike and Steve also spotted a mink cowering under the metal bridge.

Roy who came with us for the first time said he had learnt a lot from his visit and had thoroughly enjoyed it.

List of species displayed in the cabin

Recent Photos

                                                                   Dunnock

                Starlings at Brighouse (Worth going down at the end of the day when you leave the reserve)

                                                             Reed Buntings  (female and male)

                              Long Tailed Tits. My favourite small bird. So photogenic

                                                         A serious looking Blue Tit

                                               Long Tailed Tit enjoying a snack

                                                      Blue Tits looking for food

                                                                 Nuthatch

                                                             Bullfinchs (m)

                                                                        Robin

Guided Birdwatch

Don't forget our second guided Birdwatch tomorrow Sunday February 12th.
Meet in the car park at 10am. Tea and coffee in the Cabin.
All Welcome

Leucistic Female Bullfinch

Has anyone else spotted her at the feeding area (I'm guessing that's what's causing the odd colouration?)

Great Diving Beetle

This aquatic beetle had died in the top pond on Tag Loop on Saturday. My picture of its upper side was blurred.
We put it back at the water's edge so it might still be there.

Also, the Autumn Crocus leaves have started into growth in the Park Nook Lock area of woodland to the west of the reserve. (Pics on Calderdale-wildlife.blogspot - two places about 475 metres apart I've re-discovered so far.) Whoever has started maintaining it is doing a good job of clearing up the plastic but I don't agree with pruning the low branches obstructing the path, as now the off-road cyclists are going through and cutting up the ground. It's more interesting as well as being better exercise for us walkers if we have branches to climb over and duck under.

Weekend Bridge Closure at Cromwell Bottom

Hi all the bridge will be closed on Saturday this weekend, there will be NO ONE allowed over as last weekend there was some less than polite conversation to the contractors, we have an arrangement with them for work days and important events like tomorrow, if you are coming to help or to an event and the bridge is closed please be in the car park for 9-30am and we will get everyone over on block, NO stragglers will be allowed after the main group has gone over, if you are late but still want to come, enter from Avocet car park and walk in. Your cooperation is appreciated.  Graham

Bird Survey

Last Saturday 28th January a Bird Survey was carried out on the reserve. 
Despite the poor weather conditions initially, we compiled a reasonable list of species, 30 in total. Look at the list on the board in the cabin.

However because we did not have a lot of volunteers we were not able to cover the whole reserve and so missed out a number of common species, which was a pity. 
Our next survey is on Sat 18th February and every 3rd Saturday in the month for all year. Hopefully more people will be able to come on some of these days.

Photo GWH

You would learn more about ID of birds and take part in Citizens Science providing important information for the nationwide organisations of the RSPB and the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology); helping with the conservation of birds. Also it could be a lot of fun and meeting other like minded people!

Redwing  - One of the 30 species seen.

Siskin pics from Upper Calderdale

C. 40 Siskins were at Todmorden this morning. A few pics and comments are on the Calderdale Wildlife blog.

Cromwell Photography Day

Hi all

We have had a call from Matt at Kier today, the bridge will be closed Saturday and Sunday, however on Saturday we will be allowed to cross at around 10am with anyone for the photography day, so please meet in the car park by 10am.

The Cabin will be open for tea & coffee.

Guided Photography at Cromwell Bottom Saturday 28th Jan.

Hi all
A reminder that we have our first Photography Day on Saturday the 28th of January 2017. All welcome.  Come along to expert photography tuition for all ages, abilities and camera types. Followed by: tea, coffee and home-made produce!

Please meet in the car park or at the Cabin at 10:00am on the 28th, the walk will finish around 2:00pm.  

See "Next Meetings" for next birdwatching and Photography dates.

Refreshments in the Cabin.  All Welcome.

Starling Murmuration at Brighouse

This large flock of Starlings has been gathering together in small parties to make one huge group to roost together in central Brighouse for at least a few weeks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA5rKP3rmjY

Thank you to Annie Honjo for posting her video on You-tube.

We were there this evening 4.15 to 5.00pm, along with eleven other people amazed by the spectacle.

A Sparrowhawk appeared twice but didn't seem to catch a Starling, though it was definitely trying!

A spontaneous round of applause went up when the birds finally settled into the trees.

The finale is when the trees appear to suck the flock out of the sky.

If you want to see it, go to the car parks at the bottom of town near the double-towered old flour mill. 

Pond Dipping

Hi all

We will be on site this Thursday, Friday and Saturday to erect our pond dipping platform. If you would like to help us then please meet in the car park at 9:30. 

Refreshments in the Cabin.

Maybe a prompt to put nestboxes well away from paths - from "Birdguides" online.

A new study, published in open-access journal PLOS ONE, has found that high levels of human disturbance adversely affect nestling development in Blue Tits.

Nature recreation, which is becoming an increasingly popular pastime, conflicts with conservation. Where recreation is not regulated, visitors to natural areas may gather in large numbers — particularly at weekends or during holidays, when most people are not working.

Studying nestling Blue Tits at a recreational area in an oak forest some 60 km from Madrid, central Spain, where human activity intensifies during the weekends and public holidays, the researchers observed noticeable variance in fitness of nestlings from different nests.

In nests located near recreation facilities, Blue Tit nestlings that hatched during holidays developed slowly, and fledged with low body mass and poor body condition. However, nestlings that hatched outside of holidays and weekends in these nestboxes developed normally, eventually attaining similar phenotypes as those hatching in the surrounding undisturbed woodland. Within-brood variance in body mass was also higher in broods that began growing during holidays in disturbed areas.

The researchers' results show that early disturbance events may have negative consequences for wild birds if they overlap with critical stages of development, unveiling otherwise unseen impacts of human activities. It is hoped that these new findings may help managers better regulate nature recreation, as understanding the impacts of recreation on wildlife is crucial if management of natural areas is to align with both conservation and visitor expectations.

Murmuration of Starlings

Has anyone noticed a murmuration that I have heard is taking place at dusk in Brighouse?
Attracting the gaze of the shoppers apparently.

Sat.7th - further to the above, Yes there is a large murmuration going on as the starlings (many thousands of them) go in to roost in the holly trees in Atlas Mill Rd. in Brighouse town centre. Very spectacular tonight at about 4.15 to 5.00.

Busy Day at Cromwell

          Birds seen at Cromwell today -:

          1 Grey Heron
          8 Siskin
          10 Goldfinch
          1 Kingfisher
          6 Long Tailed Tit
          1 Nuthatch
          1 Snipe ( heard )
          2 Wren
           Lots of the regular visitors
           Lots of people.

       

          

Alien plant problem in the lagoon

Everyone seems to be pronouncing it Cressula. It is Crassula helmsii, with an "a" . (New Zealand Pigmyweed.) Nothing to do with the cresses, but closely related to the sedums.

But if that's the nick-name it's got at CBWG, so be it. I won't be pedantic again :-)

Sparrowhawk and pigeon.

The



Sadly the pigeon lost. Nature is brutal.

Information

Hi all just to let everyone know the bridge is closed this weekend again, but the cafe WILL be open on Sunday.

Sunday walk

We had three Little Grebes together on the river this afternoon, and a Kingfisher perched over the canal down near Brookfoot Lock.
The mild weather has brought a sprig of bramble into full flower at the Bailey Bridge.

Out of our area, it's great to see the Grey Seals with their pups on the beach at Donna Nook Nature Reserve. They give birth in November and December, some right up to the barrier by the path.

We were there last Wednesday, and about half the pups had moulted out of their white and into their second "blue" coat. We were privileged  to witness mating between a bull and cow which can happen as early as 15 days after she has given birth !

We also saw a flock of about 800 Brent Geese take off and leave the area behind the seal colony.

Bridge closure

Just to let you all know ,I have just been informed that the bridge will be closed this weekend to the public , they will however let us across for the work party in the morning (Saturday ) .

Waxwings