June Wildlife Day, Rodley Nature Reserve, Leeds - Saturday 14th June 2014

This was another great event at Rodley Nature Reserve. There's always lots to see and do at this excellent child-friendly reserve between Bradford and Leeds.

First, we watched as the reserve staff opened the moth traps they'd set the night before. As usual, we found a really wide array of moths, from the drab grey-brown ones to dazzlingly coloured ones.

Elephant Hawk-moth

Burnished Brass Moth

 

Buff-tip Moths

Beautiful Golden Y Moth

We then embarked on a small mammal survey, going around the whole reserve finding and emptying mammal traps. Field Mouse and Bank Voles were in the traps most often, although we found a tiny young toad in one!

Opening the mammal traps

Field Mouse

Bank Vole

The day continued with more events: a bird walk, a wild flower walk, pond dipping, and a trip to the reserve's fish pass During our visit we saw some great birds, including two Red Kites, a Great Crested Grebe sat on a nest, and three pairs of Common Terns with chicks.

Red Kite

Great Crested Grebe

Common Tern with chicks

Thanks to everyone who came to this fabulous event, and special thanks to the staff and volunteers of Rodley Nature Reserve for making us so welcome.