Monthly Archives: January 2017

I captured this video clip of Starlings at Brighouse this evening, many others had just gone down:

Other observations of the day included: 7 – 8 Meadow Pipits beside Ringby Lane, Ploughcroft.
13 Common Gulls included 3 juveniles at Ploughcroft
Herring gulls among the crows on Swalesmoor, Ploughcroft
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Shibden Valley despite light snow falling.
Mistle Thrush and 2 Goldfinches in Bradford Old Rd. Claremount.

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.  

Hi Steve

We have completed a baseline survey of the moor with Chris Sutcliffe
(Calderdale MBC Countryside Officer).

Chris Sutcliffe has recommended the Halifax Scientific Society may be
able to help us complete a more detailed survey.

In the long term we would like to have all the species of wildlife and
plants on the moors listed, in which areas and which seasons, food
webs and food chains etc however, we lack the knowledge to do this.

We have contacted Calderdale MBC to see if the area could be made into
a Local Nature Reserve.

Would the Society be interested in helping us with the survey?

I have attached the survey and a general map of the area.

Regards

Kelly Reid
Secretary

From Steve: this is a large open area above Halifax Golf Club, north of Halifax. 

Do we have a member living near there, who would like to take a lead on this? You

don't have to be an expert on species, just organise an initial visit, show us round, 

keep notes, and correspond  for us with Kelly; that sort of thing.

Want to get out into our local woods and help survey them?
During the excellent talk last night given by Craig Best, Countryside Manager of the National Trust, Craig mentioned the project which one of our previous speakers, Chris Atkinson of Pennine Prospects had also discussed with us – ‘Celebrating our Woodland Heritage – an Archaeological Survey’.  The surveys are taking place at a number of woods in the area – full details plus dates are given in the link below.  Training will be given.  The surveys have started – so please do have a look now to see if there is a wood near you which you could help survey!

http://www.celebrate-our-woodland.co.uk/archaeological-survey/

The list of woodlands to be investigated during the projects first year are listed below.  In order to fully record the woodland heritage of the South Pennines we need you! Whether as an individual, family, group or organisation we welcome you to get involved, to learn new skills and to enjoy our woodland heritage.

If you are interested in attending any of these archaeological events, either for a day or multiple days please contact  Chris Atkinson, Woodland Heritage Officer at Chris.Atkinson@pennineprospects.co.uk for further details.

At our HSS meeting last night at the Library, the follwing were left behind:

• One small thermos flask
• One DVD ‘A Bird for All Seasons’

If they are yours, please let me know and I’ll arrange to get them to you – or bring them to our next meeting on 14th Feb!

Thank you, Charlotte

This is not local but I’m sure we have all seen photos of this amazing Giant Sequoia with its incongruous and sad road tunnel drilled through it. Well it is now no more, having been blown down by recent storm. Read about it here:-

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/09/508919216/iconic-sequoia-tunnel-tree-brought-down-by-california-storm

“Tunnel trees were created in the 19th century to promote parks and inspire tourism”. As if ancient trees were not inspiring enough.

I saw this Yellow Brain fungus Tremella mesenterica, near Foulridge in November. It was growing on a dead Ash twig.

It is very common and only seen on dead wood. I thought it actually fed on dead wood but apparently it feeds on crust fungi, which are themselves feeding on the wood. It is therefore classed as parasitic and not saprobic.

Note the very small fly which is feeding on the ‘brain’!