tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82540164130756041722024-03-13T04:12:17.411-07:00Airedale OttersAiredale and Bradford RPSB Wildlife Explorers Groupzoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-74845880465703301402017-11-14T06:02:00.002-08:002017-11-14T06:02:55.857-08:00End of an EraThe RSPB have recently revised their rules for Wildlife Explorer groups. Under the new guidelines, the RSPB will no longer support small groups like the Airedale Otters, focusing instead on larger groups and those based at their nature reserves.<br /><br />As a result, we have unfortunately had to close the group. It is disappointing, but we must accept their decision.<br /><br />The group leaders - volunteers Cam, Joost, Chris, Les, and Nick - would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your amazing support for the Airedale Otters over the years. We have had many memorable times at our events, from our first event at Bracken Hall on Sunday 19th June 2011, until our last event, a bat walk at St Ives on Saturday 9th September 2017. <br /><br />We've found Otter poo and Grass Snake eggs. We’ve seen Bank Voles and Field Mice, Red Grouse and Red Kites, Kingfishers and Goosanders. We've seen Common Lizards, Toads, Frogs, and Newts too. We listened to Skylarks singing, Curlews calling, Buzzards mewing, and bat boxes beeping. We’ve dipped in ponds, swept up bugs, and foraged for fungi. We’ve spotted White-clawed Crayfish in the dark, seen Grey Squirrels fighting in a tree, and counted Nuthatches and Treecreepers in the freezing cold. And a lot more besides!<br /><br />As well as some great memories, the Airedale Otters have also left the legacy of the nest boxes in Deep Cliffe Wood. Above all, it’s been a pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic and knowledgeable kids and parents. <br /><br />We hope you all find outlets for your enthusiasm for wildlife.<br /><br />All the best<br />Cam, Joost, Chris, Les, and Nickzoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-80956221428879310382017-09-30T14:16:00.001-07:002017-09-30T14:18:31.234-07:00Bat Walk, St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 9th September 2017We had another excellent bat walk at <a href="http://www.friendsofstives.org.uk/index.php">St Ives, Bingley</a> on Saturday 9th September at St Ives, Bingley. We had a great turnout again - thank you to everyone who came along.<br />
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As darkness fell, Cam gave the group a brief introduction to bats and their behaviour. We were that after a wet few days it was a still and dry evening, which is ideal, as bats cannot “see” well (i.e. echo-locate) in the rain and so don’t come out to hunt.
All 18 species of British bat are insect-eating - or insectivorous - nocturnal, flying mammals. Understandably, they prefer hunting for insects on still rather than windy nights.<br />
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They hunt using “echolocation”, locating things by their echoes. To do this, bats make sounds and the returning echoes give the bats information about anything that is ahead of them, including the size and shape of an insect and which way it is going.<br />
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We shared out our bat detectors, which are small boxes which translate the bats’ high-pitched squeaks into sounds we can hear. As it became dark we set off up Cross Gates Lane behind the golf club, towards the tree-lined fields and derelict barn. At the edge of the golf course, sheltered by the trees, we spotted our first <a href="http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/-common_pipistrelle-821.html">Pippistrelle bats</a>.<br />
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<i>Watching bats, St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 9th September 2017</i></div>
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Further on the barn the detectors soon picked up bat activity. Shining torches up at the trees, we soon spotted more Pippistrelle bats. They were flying just under the canopy of the trees – where the branches spread over the lane to form a long high “tunnel” and the insects shelter from the breeze.<br />
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After watching and listening at the barns we moved back down the lane and on to Coppice pond, where the water attracts lots of insects and we were able to hear <a href="http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/-daubentons_bat-815.html">Daubenton’s bats</a> - the “water bat” - moving out over the lake.
The bat species can be told apart by their behaviour and the frequency of their calls: how high or low they squeak. Though we did not find it easy to differentiate many species, there was lots of bat activity to keep us occupied.<br />
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There was also an eerie mist forming over the water, moving gently over the surface, giving the whole scene a spooky vibe!<br />
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<i>Watching the Daubenton's Bats, St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 9th September 2017</i></div>
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We also saw some <b>white-clawed crayfish</b> in the pond shallows. These are small, fresh-water lobster-like crustaceans. St Ives Estate have undertaken work to encourage the endangered white-clawed crayfish in Coppice Pond. Just like our bat walk two years ago, we found a <b>Moorhen</b>, roosting in a flimsy branch overhanging the pond. This may seem an odd place for us to sleep, but for a Moorhen it's the perfect place to sleep safe from Mink and other predators.<br />
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<i><b>White-clawed Crayfish</b>, St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 9th September 2017</i></div>
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Once again, thank you to everyone who came and made this such an enjoyable event.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-12491961119067060312017-07-11T14:59:00.000-07:002017-07-11T23:51:47.850-07:00Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, Baildon - Sunday 9th July 2017We had another great event at <a href="http://www.dm-naturereserve.org.uk/">Denso-Marston nature reserve</a> on Sunday 9th July. Despite the reserve's small size, there's always plenty to see here. <br />
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Warden Steve Warrillow made us very welcome and invited us to the new warden's office to see what his moth traps had caught overnight. <br />
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<i><b>Scalloped Oak moth</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, 9th July 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Peppered moth</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, 9th July 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Early Thorn moth</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, 9th July 2017</i></div>
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We also saw <b>Buff Arches</b> and <b>White Ermine</b> moths, and a <b>Sparrowhawk</b> flying overhead, but the star of the show had to be the <b>Poplar Hawk-moth</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Poplar Hawk-moth</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, 9th July 2017</i></div>
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<i>The star of the show was this </i><b><i>Poplar Hawk-moth</i></b><i> (on Steve's thumb)</i></div>
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We then headed out along the river to the far end of the reserve. Here, under the trees, Steve has placed up to 50 wooden boards to create living spaces
for mammals and amphibians. We were encouraged to lift up these boards to see what lives beneath.<br />
<br />We found evidence of small mammals living under most of the boards, either <b>Wood Mouse</b> or <b>Bank Vole</b>, although we didn't see any this time. What we did see was lots of <b>Toads</b>, most of which were very dark, but at least one was very pale. Steve explained there can be lots of variation in the colouring of toads, and especially in <b>Common Frogs</b> too.<br />
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<i>One of the dark <b>Toads</b> we found... </i></div>
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<i> ...and a pale <b>Toad</b> we found</i></div>
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Finally, we emerged into the the hot sunshine and headed to the pond for some <b>pond-dipping</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Moorhens</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, 9th July 2017</i></div>
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Two <b>Moorhens</b> were nesting on the pond, and hawking for small insect prey were two large <b>Brown</b> <b>Hawker</b> dragonflies. Around the reeds and irises at the pond edge were the much smaller <b>Azure</b> <b>Damselflies</b>. <br />
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<i>Pond dipping</i></div>
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We managed to catch a wide variety of species, and learnt to identify many of them too. There were quite a small young<b> Smooth Newts</b>, some bigger than others. We also caught plenty of invertebrates: <b>Greater</b> and <b>Lesser
Water-boatmen</b>, <b>Hog Louse</b>, <b>Blood</b> <b>Worm,</b> <b>Flatworm</b>, <b>Water</b> <b>Mite</b>, <b>Pond</b> <b>Skaters</b>, <b>Leaches</b> and <b>Freshwater Snail</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Greater </b></i><i><b><b>Water-boatman</b></b> (aka <b>Backswimmer</b>)<br />Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, 9th July 2017</i></div>
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Thank you to everyone who attended and made it such a fun event. zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-22645285258515206752017-06-09T08:58:00.000-07:002017-06-09T09:04:15.057-07:00Bird Race, St Ives, Bingley - Sunday, 7th May, 2017On Sunday 7th May we held the Airedale Otters annual Great Bingley Bird-off! Well, Bird Race, actually. It was a clear fresh morning and everyone met at the Coppice Pond bird hide in St Ives.<br />
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A bird race is a competition for the ‘Otters’ to see or hear as many species of bird as possible. All birds must be seen or heard by a young person and validated by an impartial leader. As we didn’t have any of those, Cam and Joost stepped in to lead the two teams!<br />
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Cam’s team strode off purposefully through mature woodland towards Lady Blantyre’s rock, the heathland above, open lawns and moorland of the golf course and back along Cross Gates Lane.<br />
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Joost’s team dawdled around Coppice Pond, noting lots of water birds on the pond, including a surprisingly colourful Moorhen (green legs; yellow and red beak; plus black, brown and white plumage).<br />
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<b><i>Moorhen</i></b><i> with chicks</i><b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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We also saw Coot, Canada Goose, Mallard, Mute Swan, and a stumpy, round Tufted Duck diving under the surface, plus open woodland birds like the Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff around the edges. Those two birds look very similar, but have very different calls.<br />
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<i> <b>Willow Warbler</b> (photo Andreas Trepte, <a class="external text" href="http://www.photo-natur.net/" rel="nofollow">www.photo-natur.net</a>)</i></div>
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<b><i>Chiffchaff</i></b></div>
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Joost’s team then set off towards the golf course, looking for thrushes and blackbirds hunting worms and snails on the grass, tiny, noisy, wrens around the dry-stone walls and nut hatches and treecreepers scampering over old oak trees.<br />
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<i><b>Treecreepers</b> always creep <b>up</b> a tree</i></div>
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<i><b>Nuthatches</b> scurry <b>down</b> the tree (photo Stephen Lilley)</i></div>
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We grabbed a few bonus points with a kestrel and buzzard soaring high over the top meadows (it’s always worthwhile having binoculars to bring those distant birds into clearer view). Finally, a tip-off from Cam helped Joost’s team see a Pied flycatcher – not at all a common sight.<br />
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<i><b>Pied Flycatcher </b>(photo Stephen Lilley)</i></div>
<br />
As an extra treat, we then heard a Wood Warbler, which sounds like a coin spinning on a table! And then a more common Goldcrest - a tiny olive bird which, when agitated, reveals a spectacular orange mohican!<br />
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<i><b> Goldcrest</b></i></div>
<br />
We all struggled back to base, over time and eager to know the result. Somehow Joost’s team had managed to tip the balance in their favour (Les and Chris were helping too!!) with a very respectable 36 species as shown below:<br />
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-13486138550868239012017-04-19T06:47:00.002-07:002017-04-20T01:18:39.515-07:00Spring Walk, Bingley - Sunday 2nd April 2017We have a lovely <b>Spring Walk</b> along the lesser-known paths of Bingley on <b>Sunday 2nd April</b>.<br />
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<i> <b>River Aire, Bingley</b> - 2nd April 2017 (photo: Chris Chandler)</i></div>
<br />
Starting
from the cobbled courtyard by Ireland Bridge (across the road from the
Brown Cow pub), we walked upstream beside the river Aire. We then headed
through farmland and stables, before doubling back and climbing high up
through the woods to eventually join Alter Lane and return to our
meeting place.<br />
<br />
An early treat was a <b>Dipper</b> on the weir by Ireland Bridge, before we heard the squeaky call of a <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> flying overhead.<br />
<br />
All along the path we could hear singing <b>Wrens</b> and <b>Robins</b>, which carried on throughout an early rain shower. Beautiful <b>Summer Snowflake</b> was in flower along the river bank too.<br />
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<i><b>Summer Snowflake</b> (Leucojum aestivum), Bingley</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>2nd April 2017 (photo: Chris Chandler)</i></div>
<br />
We found a mass of tadpoles in a ditch by the path, all bunched up at the end. The tadpoles were probably grateful of the rain.<br />
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<i> <b>Tadpoles</b>, Bingley - 2nd April 2017 (photo: Chris Chandler)</i></div>
<br />
<br />
Over on the river we stopped to watch some delightful <b>Grey Wagtails</b>
as they looked for insect food on the detritus of the river, and flew
from across the river with their bouncing flight style. On a large rock
close by the shore, we noticed some animal scat - it was an <b>Otter</b>
spraint (poo)! Otters scent-mark their territory with spraint in much
the same way as other mammals like cats and foxes do. This might warn
other otters that there is a resident on that stretch, either to attract
a potential mate, or warn off competition. It may also serve as a
“calling card” for otters moving through an area to advertise their
presence.<br />
<br />
The spraint is thought to inform otters about age,
sex, health and diet of the marking animal. It is black, 3 to 10 cm
long, and flecked with bones and scales from the otter’s lunch!<br />
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<i><b> Otter spraint</b>, Bingley - 2nd April 2017 </i></div>
<br />
Further along the river were a group of <b>Goosanders</b> and <b>Mallards</b>, with the males of both species looking resplendent in their breeding plumage. <br />
<br />
We reached some stables, which had <b>Pied Wagtails</b>
feeding on the rooftops, and we soon found some deer tracks. We
compared them to our handy guide to mammal track, and were confident the
hoof prints belonged to the of the local <b>Fallow Deer </b>population.<br />
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<i><b> Fallow Deer tracks</b>, Bingley - 2nd April 2017 </i></div>
<br />
And
just a little further on we found some deer poo! Again, our guide book
came in handy, with the poo we found matching the picture and
description perfectly.<br />
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<i><b> Deer poo</b>, Bingley - 2nd April 2017 </i></div>
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By now the weather had improved and we moved beyond the stables to the edge of some woodland. <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-02cxfx-CSsk/WPaArNBg95I/AAAAAAAAF9I/rHWeYvCNs_gEyS7FeuE0kJRcMNjNn714QCLcB/s1600/Group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-02cxfx-CSsk/WPaArNBg95I/AAAAAAAAF9I/rHWeYvCNs_gEyS7FeuE0kJRcMNjNn714QCLcB/s400/Group.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>No more rain!</i></div>
<br />
At this point one eagle-eyed Airedale Otter noticed a <b>Common Buzzard </b>overhead!
Before long we noticed another, and then another! One appeared to be
performing a display: swooping from a great height down into the woods
while making it's cat-like <i>peea-ay</i> call! Awesome!<br />
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<i><b> Common Buzzard</b>, Bingley - 2nd April 2017 </i></div>
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We also found evidence of a <b>Badger</b> feeding site and toilet!<br />
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<i>Believe it or not, this is a <b>Badger</b> toilet!</i></div>
<br />
As the sun came out, we headed up through the woods, hearing more bird song (including singing <b>Goldcrests</b>) and finding more signs of Spring, like this <b>Lesser Celandine</b>.<br />
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<i><b>Lesser Celandine</b> (Ficaria verna), Bingley</i></div>
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<i>2nd April 2017 (photo: Chris Chandler)</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sunshine!</i></div>
<br />
Les,
one of the group leaders, came across empty egg on the ground in the
wood. It looked like it had hatched in the nest and been discarded by
the parents. It could have come a nest this year, or possibly last
year. After a long discussion, we decided it was likely to be a <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Common+Buzzard+egg&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDlPH-yrDTAhXNJFAKHdT2A8sQ_AUICCgB&biw=1303&bih=903" target="_blank">Common Buzzard egg</a>.<br />
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<i><b> Common Buzzard</b> egg, Bingley - 2nd April 2017 </i></div>
<br />
Another treat was seeing a <b>Sparrowhawk</b>
display over the woods! Two Sparrowhawks were flying low over the
treetops, when one suddenly few in a fast stoop into the trees. The
other bird flew round and around above the other bird, before flying
down fast into the trees itself. Wow, not something you see everyday!<br />
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<i><b> Sparrowhawk</b> egg, Bingley - 2nd April 2017 </i></div>
<br />
One
last challenge was to cross the muddy field to Alter Lane, and we were
accompanied during the walk down into Bingley by the strong and tasty
aroma of Wild Garlic on the path side.<br />
<br />
A really delightful walk. Thank you to everyone who came and made it such an enjoyable morning.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-62780232548177821982017-01-29T09:46:00.003-08:002017-01-29T10:13:48.454-08:00Big Garden Birdwatch 2017 at St Ives, Bingley - Sunday 29th January 2017We had another enjoyable <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/" target="_blank">Big Garden Birdwatch</a> at St Ives, near Bingley. As usual, we met at the <b>bird hide in St Ives</b>, next to
Coppice Pond. We choose the same spot each year so we can easily
compare each year's results. At around 10:45 we started our hour of
counting the birds visiting
the feeders. We had placed extra food out for
the birds before the event to ensure we would attract as many species
as
possible. The weather was dry, still, clear and sunny - perfect.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Lots of helpers for this year's Big Garden Birdwatch</i></div>
<br />
We saw more types of bird than in previous years, with a total of 13 species, although this year we didn't see a Treecreeper. The highlights were three Nuthatches giving us great views - this bird clearly is boss of the feeders here; two lovely Long-tailed Tits, and three tiny Goldcrests high up in the conifers behind the feeding station. The birds were:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Coal Tit</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Blue Tit</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Great Tit</b></li>
<li><b>Long-tailed Tit</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Blackbird</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Wood Pigeon</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Magpie</b></li>
<li><b>Carrion Crow </b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Dunnock</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Robin</b></li>
<li><b>Wren</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Nuthatch</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Goldcrest</b></li>
</ul>
It's interesting that we didn't see any finches during the survey. Finches are seed-eaters and regularly come to garden bird feeders. <br />
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<i><b>Nuthatch</b>, St Ives, Bingley - </i><i>29th January 2017</i></div>
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<i><b>Robin</b>, St Ives, Bingley - </i><i>29th January 2017</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
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<i><b>Grey Squirrel</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 29th January 2017</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>One of the Airedale Otters' notebooks</i></div>
<br />
We will send the result of our
survey off to the RSPB so they can add it to many others that will have
been done up and down the country. You can see our results from the last four years here: <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/big-garden-birdwatch-2016-at-st-ives.html" target="_blank">2016</a>, <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/next-event-big-garden-birdwatch-2015-at.html">2015</a>, <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-at-st-ives.html">2014</a> and <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-2013.html">2013</a>. The RSPB's results for last year's survey can be found <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdwatch/results.aspx">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who came and help out with this year's count.
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<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-91347106566932515182017-01-10T01:14:00.001-08:002017-01-10T01:17:09.352-08:00Winter Wildlife Walk, Hirst Wood - Sunday 8th January 2017We had a great walk through <b>Hirst Wood</b> and along the <b>River Aire </b>on the morning on Sunday 8th January.<br />
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The weather was kind to us, with a mild temperature and no rain or wind. We headed west through the woodland from the Hirst Lock end, listening out for birds as we walked. <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/b/bluetit/index.aspx" target="_blank">Blue Tits</a> and <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/c/carrioncrow/index.aspx" target="_blank">Carrion Crows</a> were particularly active, with <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/w/woodpigeon/index.aspx" target="_blank">Wood Pigeons</a> and <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/a-z-of-a-wildlife-garden/atoz/g/greysquirrel.aspx" target="_blank">Grey Squirrels</a> too. We heard a <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/n/nuthatch/" target="_blank">Nuthatch</a> making its loud ringing call, but we couldn't see it.<br />
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Under the railway bridge, we looked for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spraint" target="_blank">Otter spraints</a> on the rocks along the river, without success, but soon found a pair of <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/d/dipper/index.aspx" target="_blank">Dippers</a>. There were several <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/g/goosander/index.aspx" target="_blank">Goosanders</a> on the river. These beautiful ducks are members of the merganser family: fish-feeding ducks that have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey, so they are often known as "sawbills".<br />
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<i> A male <b>Goosander</b> on the River Aire near Hirst Wood - 8th January 2017</i></div>
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<i> A female <b>Goosander</b> on the canal in Saltaire - January 2017</i></div>
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Following the path around the corner we heard a commotion in the trees. A screeching Grey Squirrel appeared to be
hanging by its teeth from a branch! We then realised another squirrel was hanging by its teeth
from the first squirrel, and appeared to be biting it! What a racket they made at they wriggle and dangled from the branch. Eventually the squirrel hanging on to the first squirrel's back fell off, and landed amongst the rocks below. It then got up, dusted itself down, and headed straight back up the tree to carry on the fight! They chased each other around the tree, which appeared to have at least three other squirrels in it too, before peace broke out and they all trotted off along the woodland floor.<br />
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<i> Fighting <b>Grey</b> <b>Squirrels</b> in Hirst Wood - 8th January 2017</i></div>
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At Dowley Gap sewage works, masses of <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/p/piedwagtail/index.aspx" target="_blank">Pied Wagtails</a> were bobbing through the air and sat in the trees. These birds, along with the<a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/m/meadowpipit/index.aspx" target="_blank"> Meadow Pipits</a> we also saw, are insectivorous (meaning they eat insects) and the sewage works is - unsurprisingly - the best place to find insects, even in winter.<br />
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<i>Lots of tasty flies at Dowley Gap! - 8th January 2017</i></div>
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We now turned back towards Hirst Lock, but this time went along the riverside path. We heard and saw a pair of <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/g/greywagtail/" target="_blank">Grey Wagtails</a> calling as they made their bouncy flight upriver. There were many <a href="https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/native-trees/alder/" target="_blank">Alder</a> trees along the riverbank. Alders like to grow in damp conditions like these. We found the <a href="http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/inonotus-radiatus.php" target="_blank">Alder Bracket fungus</a> growing on one dead Alder tree stump. <br />
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<i><b>Alder Bracket</b> fungus - 8th January 2017</i></div>
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There were around a hundred <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/c/canadagoose/index.aspx" target="_blank">Canada Geese</a> feeding on grass in the field behind the rowing club, and see saw another pair of <b>Dippers</b> on the rocks at Hirst Weir.<br />
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<i><b>Dipper</b>, Hirst Weir, Saltaire - 8th January 2017</i></div>
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We finished with hot chocolate, vimto and biscuits in the Hirst Wood nature reserve! Thanks to everyone who came along.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-37776605828578034112016-12-23T04:38:00.001-08:002016-12-31T14:48:39.649-08:00Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!From all the Airedale Otters leaders - Cam, Joost, Chris, Les, and Nick - have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!<br />
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We're looking forward to an eventful and wildlife-filled 2017, with a full programme of event to be published here soon. Our fist event of 2017 will be a <b>New Year Winter Walk</b> on <b>Sunday 8th January</b>, starting at <b>10:30am at Hirst Wood near Saltaire</b>. We'll be looking for woodland birds, such as Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jay, and river birds like Grey Wagtail, Goosander, Kingfisher and Dipper. We'll also be checking for signs of any Otters along the river. We'll end with some warming drinks at the new Hirst Wood Nature Reserve. Full details to follow soon.<br />
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Also in January we will once again be partaking in the <b>RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch</b>, in our usual spot at the <b>bird hide in St Ives</b> at <b>10:30am </b>on <b>Sunday 29th January</b>.<br />
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We haven't posted many updates on our blog recently - sorry about that! Here are a few photos from our most recent events: <b>Fungi Foray</b> at St Ives on the 16th October, and the <b>Bat Walk</b> at St Ives on 10th September. <br />
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<b>Bat Walk, St Ives - Saturday 10th September 2016</b> <br />
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<i>Watching <b>Pipistelle Bats</b> on the old Cross Gates Lane.</i></div>
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<i>Spooky lights while watching <b>Daubenton's Bats</b> over the Coppice Pond</i></div>
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<b>Fungi Foray, St Ives - Sunday 16th October 2016</b><br />
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<i>Airedale Otter Luke pointing out a <b>Fly Agaric </b>fungi he found</i></div>
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<i>Our expert Bob Taylor telling us about <b>Fly Agaric </b>fungi</i></div>
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<i><b> Common Earthball </b>fungi at St Ives</i></div>
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<i><b> </b></i><i><b>Shaggy Scalycap </b>fungi at St Ives</i></div>
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Hope you can join us for our next event!<br />
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-46840133463606684192016-06-22T02:56:00.001-07:002016-06-22T02:59:24.919-07:00Peregrine Falcons, Malham Cove - Sunday 19th June 2016We had a fabulous day out at <b>Malham Cove</b> in North Yorkshire on Sunday 19th June. <br />
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We met at the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park in Malham village, and Les gave us a quick talk on the <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/p/peregrine/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Peregrine Falcons</b></a> we were hoping to see up at Malham Cove. The walk to the Cove took us along the stream through the village. <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Swallows</b></a> were coming down to a little "beach" by the stream, bringing dry grass in their beaks. The birds then scooped up some mud from the shore and flew off to build or repair their nests (presumably in a nearby barn).<br />
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<i>The Swallow flew down with a short piece of grass in its beak...</i></div>
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<i> ...then scooped up a mouthful of mud before flying off.</i></div>
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Further on, <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/h/housesparrow/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>House Sparrows</b></a> were bathing in the stream by the village shop. On the other side of the village we headed through a small deciduous wood, which was full of birdsong. We could hear <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/chiffchaff/index.aspx" target="_blank">Chiffchaffs</a>, <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/b/blackbird/index.aspx" target="_blank">Blackbirds</a>, <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/j/jackdaw/index.aspx" target="_blank">Jackdaws</a>, and <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/chaffinch/index.aspx" target="_blank">Chaffinches</a>, with <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/h/housemartin/index.aspx" target="_blank">House Martins</a> overhead. We spotted a family of <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/w/wren/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Wrens</b></a> on the dry-stone wall by the stream. The family probably nested in a cavity in the wall - the Wren's scientific name is <i>Troglodytes</i>, which means "cave-dweller". <br />
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<i>Young <b>Wren</b>, Malham, North Yorkshire - Sunday 19th June 2016</i></div>
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The walk to the Cove is lovely, and the view is very impressive.<br />
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<i><b>Malham Cove</b>, North Yorkshire - Sunday 19th June 2016</i></div>
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A young <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/w/wheatear/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Wheatear</b></a> was among the rocks beside the path and was being attended to by its parents. Our visited clearly coincided with many young birds leaving their nests.<br />
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<i><b>Wheatear</b>, Malham, North Yorkshire - Sunday 19th June 2016</i></div>
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/malhamperegrine" target="_blank">RSPB Peregrine Monitoring Team</a> were waiting at the Cove, where they keep a round-the-clock watch on the nesting Peregrines. They immediately pointed out the adult male <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/p/peregrine/" target="_blank"><b>Peregrine</b></a> perched in an Ash tree high up on the side of the Cove!<br />
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<i><b>Peregrine Falcon</b>, Malham, North Yorkshire - Sunday 19th June 2016</i></div>
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The RSPB team gave us a really interesting talk about the Peregrines and answered our many questions. We were shown two stick models of the male and female Peregrine, to help us appreciate their size, and to see just how much bigger the female is compared to the male.<br />
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<i> Most of the kids were off watching Peregrines or searching for moles or fungi!</i></div>
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We heard how the Peregrine suffered terribly in the past from illegal killing by humans and from widespread contamination by persistent toxic agricultural chemicals such
as DDT. After the banning of DDT in the 1980s, the Peregrine population has recovered brilliantly to about 1400 pairs (in 2002 - probably more now), from a low of only 360 in the 1960s. Unfortunately Peregrines are still persecuted - they have few fans in the Grouse-shooting industry or among Pigeon fanciers.<br />
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The Peregrine had caught a small bird, possibly a Blackbird. He flew
around the Cove carrying the prey, while calling to the young
Peregrines. He then settled back on the Ash tree and continued to eat
the prey.<br />
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<i><b>Peregrine Falcon</b>, Malham, North Yorkshire - Sunday 19th June 2016</i></div>
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By the feeders near the Peregrine watch point, we could see another striking bird: the <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/redstart/" target="_blank"><b>Redstart</b></a>. These birds spend the winter in north Africa and migrate north in Spring to breed in this type of grassy, wooded upland area. A beautiful male Redstart kept watch over its fledgling in the grass.<br />
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<i><b>Redstart</b>, Malham, North Yorkshire - Sunday 19th June 2016</i></div>
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And searching for insects around the cattle was this lovely <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/p/piedwagtail/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Pied Wagtail</b></a>.<br />
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<i><b>Pied Wagtail</b>, Malham, North Yorkshire - Sunday 19th June 2016</i></div>
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fascinating trip.<br />
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-24700569423316956642016-05-27T05:55:00.002-07:002016-09-04T23:57:50.457-07:00Moorland Wildlife Walk, Whetstone Gate, Rombalds Moor - Sunday 22nd May 2016We had ad some wonderful weather and some surprising sightings on our trip up to the local moors on Sunday 22nd May 2016, at Whetstone Gate on Rombalds Moor.<br />
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One of the first things we saw was a lizard, spotted by one of our young Otters. Darting into the thick heather, it was too quick to getting a positive identification; but it was almost certainly a <a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/common-lizard" target="_blank"><b>Common Lizard</b></a>. We also found some old, empty, soft white eggs. Common Lizards are viviparous - meaning they give birth to live young, not eggs. They didn't look like bird eggs - they looked much more like lizard or snake eggs. After some extensive and exhaustive research, we're pretty certain they were <a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/grass-snake" target="_blank"><b>Grass Snake</b></a> eggs. Any herpetologists (someone who studies reptiles and amphibians) out there who can confirm?<br />
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<i>Mystery egg, with pound coin for size comparison<br />Rombalds Moor, 22nd May 2016 (photo: Joost Smeele)</i></div>
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We also found part of a <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/redgrouse/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Red Grouse</b></a> egg, which looked like it had been the victim of a predator (the egg was smashed and there was some yolk on the inside of the egg). Red Grouse are specially adapted to keep warm and dry in cold upland areas like this,
having round, stocky bodies with feathers covering their legs. We saw lots of them the moor - the area is used for grouse shooting, and the land-owners use many techniques to increase their numbers, including burning the heather and suppressing animals that predate grouse.<br />
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<i>Highly camouflaged <b>Red Grouse egg</b> - Rombalds Moor, 22nd May 2016</i></div>
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Another abundant bird we saw was the <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/skylark/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Skylark</b></a>. You often first notice these by their song, which the sing while hovering high up in the air. When they do this they can be surprisingly difficult to spot, even when they sound like they're right above you! Skylarks are streaky brown with a small crest, which can be raised when the bird is excited or alarmed. Its recent and dramatic population declines make it a <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/status_explained.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Red List species</b></a>.<br />
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<i><b>Skylark</b> - Rombalds Moor, 22nd May 2016</i></div>
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<i>A <b>Skylark </b>in flight - Rombalds Moor, 22nd May 2016 (photo Chris Chandler)</i></div>
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Probably the most numerous bird on the moor was the <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/m/meadowpipit/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Meadow Pipit</b></a>, which is similar to a Skylark, but smaller, slimmer, and with a thin bill and no crest.<br />
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<i><b>Meadow Pipit</b> - Rombalds Moor, 22nd May 2016</i></div>
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We also saw a female <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/w/wheatear/" target="_blank"><b>Wheatear</b></a>, first on the wall, and later feeding among the <b><a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/sphagnum-moss" target="_blank">Sphagnum moss</a></b> with the Skylarks. Wheatears are summer visitors, breeding mainly in western and northern Britain. They spend the winter in central Africa.<br />
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<i><b>Wheatear</b> - Rombalds Moor, 22nd May 2016</i></div>
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Sphagnum moss itself is fascinating. It is very absorbent
and when applied to wounds it soaks up
the blood and infection and its naturally antiseptic properties helped
heal these wounds. Vast amounts of Sphagnum mosses were harvested from
moorland during the First World War to help treat wounds on the front
line. They also play an important role in the creation of peat bogs,
holding water in their spongy forms long after the surrounding soil has
dried out. In this way, they provide essential nutrients to the soil and
help to prevent the decay of dead plant material which gets compressed
over hundreds of years to form peat.<br />
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Unfortunately we couldn't see any <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/g/goldenplover/index.aspx" target="_blank">Golden Plover</a></b> on the moor. We know these beautiful birds breed here, but thanks to their spangley golden plumage they can be very difficult to spot. We did see - and hear - lots of <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/curlew/index.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Curlews</b></a> and<b> <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/l/lapwing/index.aspx" target="_blank">Lapwing</a></b>, which is good news as both these species are in decline and are also <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/status_explained.aspx" target="_blank">red-litsed</a>.<br />
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Another great find by one of our Otters was an <a href="http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/lasiocampa-quercus/" target="_blank"><b>Oak Eggar moth</b></a> caterpillar (<i>Lasiocampa quercus </i>for fans of scientific names), feeding on heather. A great find.<br />
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<i><b>Oak Eggar moth caterpillar</b> - Rombalds Moor, 22nd May 2016</i></div>
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Thank you to everyone who came and made the event such fun.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-25325907955993095112016-04-17T15:35:00.000-07:002016-04-18T10:06:49.871-07:00Spring Migration at St Ives, Bingley - Sunday 10th April 2016We had a very enjoyable event at St Ives, Bingley, on Sunday 10th April. The focus was on migrating birds, specifically birds that visit the UK to breed during the summer and spend winter in warmer climates further south.<br />
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Many of these migrating birds are part of a group of small, insect-eating birds called warblers. These birds can look very similar to one another, but fortunately they all have distinctive songs - of course, that's why they're called warblers!<br />
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We had fun
identifying two almost identical warblers: <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/w/willowwarbler/" target="_blank"><b>Willow Warbler</b></a> and <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/chiffchaff/" target="_blank"><b>Chiffchaff</b></a>. Willow Warblers sing a lovely descending song, whereas Chiffchaffs (like Cuckoos) sing their name: <i>chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff</i>. <br />
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<i><b>Chiffchaff</b> - St Ives, Bingley 10th April 2016 (photo: Chris Chandler)</i></div>
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As we walked we heard a <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/curlew/" target="_blank"><b>Curlew</b></a> high overhead - a very evocative sound. These wading birds breed on the moors and upland pasture just by St Ives. Curlews also migrate, but generally only go as far as our beaches and coastal mud flats in winter.<br />
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We also noticed a
<a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/sparrowhawk/" target="_blank"><b> Sparrowhawk</b></a> being mobbed by crows, then a <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/b/buzzard/" target="_blank"><b>Buzzard</b></a> appeared overhead, then we saw two Sparrowhawks mobbing two
Buzzards! Birds of prey (or raptors as they are often called) like these warm and sunny days in early spring, where they can catch the thermals and display over their territories.<br />
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Taking the path round Coppice Pond, we watched a territorial <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/m/muteswan/index.aspx" target="_blank">Mute Swan</a></b> shooing away a <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/canadagoose/" target="_blank">Canada Goose</a></b>, and heard the loud calls of the resident <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/n/nuthatch/" target="_blank"><b>Nuthatches</b></a>. Some of us were lucky enough to catch sight of a <a href="http://www.britannica.com/animal/perch" target="_blank"><b>Perch</b></a> in the pond.<br />
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We spotted this crazy<a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/carrioncrow/" target="_blank"><b> Carrion Crow</b></a>, which kept flying in from near Coppice Pond,
carrying what at first looked like a carrot in its bill. On closer
inspection, we saw it was carrying three cheesy wotsits! It then burried
them in the hourse padock and flew off ...only to return with another
beak-full 30 seconds later, and bury those too!<br />
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<i><b>Carrion Crow</b> - St Ives, Bingley 10th April 2016 (photos: Chris Chandler)</i> </div>
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We finished the walk at St Ives visitor centre and saw our first <b>
<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/index.aspx" target="_blank">Swallows</a></b> of the year - always a nice feeling to know summer is well and truly on it's way.<br />
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Thanks to everyone who came to the event and made
it so enjoyable.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-60121453971527926642016-04-06T13:43:00.000-07:002016-04-06T13:53:41.779-07:00Otter and Spring Wildlife Walk, Bingley - Sunday 13th March 2016We had a really enjoyable Spring walk along the River Aire on Sunday 13th
March, looking for evidence of Otters and signs of Spring.<br />
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<i><b>River Aire</b> - Bingley 13th March 2016</i></div>
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Just like <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/spring-wildlife-walk-bingley-sunday.html">our last Otter walk in Bingley</a>, the weather was lovely - warm and sunny and very Springlike. We were seeing signs of Spring all around as we assembled at
Bingley Market Cross. Several large <b>White-tailed Bumblebees</b> were busily foraging among the crocuses by the car park.<br />
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<i><b>White-tailed Bumblebee</b> - Bingley 13th March 2016</i></div>
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We followed the river downstream towards Myrtle Park, checking for signs of <b><a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/otter">Otters</a></b>. Otters leave "spraints" – what we would call poo – on prominent rocks along the
river, to mark out their territory. Unfortunately, there were very few exposed rocks left after the recent flooding, and what there was had been recently washed clean.<br />
<br />
Early in walk we found lots of prints in the sand and mud on the river bank; but apart for dog prints, most of these appeared to be from an <b><a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/american-mink">American Mink</a></b>.
The Mink is smaller than the Otter, and the prints are therefore
smaller. Like the Otter, American Mink breeds along the River Aire; but,
unlike the Otter, which developed naturally on the UK, the wild Mink
population exists because of escapes from Mink farms.<br />
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<i><b>American Mink</b> tracks - Bingley 13th March 2016</i></div>
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We did find some possible Otter tracks, among the many dog tracks, but they weren't totally conclusive. But, that's nature for you, and it shows how being a wildlife explorer involves finding clues using skill, judgement and experience to interpret them - it's not always straightforward!<br />
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<i>Possible<b> Otter</b> tracks - Bingley 13th March 2016</i></div>
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The trees were full of birdsong - a clear sign the breeding season has started. In the distance we could hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker hammering on a tree. We could smell the delicious <b>Wild Garlic</b> growing on the river bank, and further on we found <b>Lesser Celandine</b> - one of the first plants to flower in Spring.<br />
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<i><b>Lesser Celandine</b> - Bingley 13th March 2016</i></div>
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On the water were a pair of beautiful <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/g/goosander/">Goosander</a></b> - fantastic "saw-billed" ducks with a striking plumage. A pair of <b>Canada Goose</b> were swimming in the sunshine near to Throstle Nest.<br />
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<i><b>Canada Goose</b> - Bingley 13th March 2016</i></div>
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By the end of the walk it was a bright and warm Spring day - a lovely end to a really enjoyable event. Thank you to everyone who joined in.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-17066731096429304472016-02-04T10:10:00.002-08:002016-02-07T06:23:59.098-08:00Big Garden Birdwatch 2016 at St Ives - Sunday 31st January Our first event of 2016 was the annual RSPB <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/" target="_blank">Big Garden Birdwatch</a> at St Ives.<br />
<br />
The venue was again the <b>bird hide in St Ives </b>(next to
Coppice Pond). We choose the same spot each year so we can easily compare each year's results. At around 10:45 we started our hour of counting the birds visiting
the feeders. The Airedale Otters leaders had placed extra food out for
the birds before the event to ensure we would attract as many species
as
possible.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1Pa41OK1KE/VrOQVPGJrvI/AAAAAAAAFBM/haLzKsrqTOk/s1600/Robin-160131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1Pa41OK1KE/VrOQVPGJrvI/AAAAAAAAFBM/haLzKsrqTOk/s400/Robin-160131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Robin</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 31st January 2016</i></div>
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We saw species of birds this year than last (eleven instead of eight), but this year we
had fewer individual birds. The birds were:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Coal Tit</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Blue Tit</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Great Tit</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Blackbird</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Wood Pigeon</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Magpie</b></li>
<li><b>Carrion Crow </b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Dunnock</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Robin</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Nuthatch</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Treecreeper </b></li>
</ul>
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<i><b>Blackbird</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 3<span style="font-size: small;">1st January 2016 (photo Chris Chandler)</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JjCjqWGVaw/VrSnYxO6uzI/AAAAAAAAFCE/z9VtaIf4Q4o/s1600/Blue-Tit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JjCjqWGVaw/VrSnYxO6uzI/AAAAAAAAFCE/z9VtaIf4Q4o/s400/Blue-Tit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Blue Tit</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 31st Januar<span style="font-size: small;">y 2016 </span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(photo Chris Chandler)</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-1ZiiTmk0s/VrSnY8T25xI/AAAAAAAAFCI/jGn-z6PcILI/s1600/Great-Tit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-1ZiiTmk0s/VrSnY8T25xI/AAAAAAAAFCI/jGn-z6PcILI/s400/Great-Tit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Great Tit</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 31st January <span style="font-size: small;">2016 </span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(photo Chris Chandler)</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMKaFwml2ZE/VrSnZCdGIuI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/9kilBK3mKQk/s1600/Wood-Pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mMKaFwml2ZE/VrSnZCdGIuI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/9kilBK3mKQk/s400/Wood-Pigeon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Wood Pigeon</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 31st January 2016 </i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(photo Chris Chandler)</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckgCM7u6Q1c/VrOQmsMyrSI/AAAAAAAAFBQ/V1ufM5Z1DZ0/s1600/Grey-Sqirrel-160131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckgCM7u6Q1c/VrOQmsMyrSI/AAAAAAAAFBQ/V1ufM5Z1DZ0/s400/Grey-Sqirrel-160131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>It wasn't only birds! <b>Grey Squirrel</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 31st January 2016</i></div>
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It was great to see the young birdwatchers using their notepads to make notes and draw the birds they saw - a great way to improve your bird
identification skills.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tuDiL02-lA/VrORW_jp3CI/AAAAAAAAFBY/6wrwu3iGjJY/s1600/Luke-List-and-Treecreeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tuDiL02-lA/VrORW_jp3CI/AAAAAAAAFBY/6wrwu3iGjJY/s320/Luke-List-and-Treecreeper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Some of the lists and drawings by young Airedale Otters at this year's Big Garden Birdwatch</i></div>
<br />
One of the highlights (as well as the hot chocolate and biscuits!) was a <b>Treecreeper</b> which flew on to a tree behind the hide and allowed us to get a close look. These small mouse-like birds forage for insects on tree trucks. They always climb up trees, never down - they fly down to the base on the next tree. Check out the RSPB website for more information on <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/t/treecreeper/">Treecreepers</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e15gPWOj3ug/VrOTsnIwSFI/AAAAAAAAFBs/vKPQAPyJd1U/s1600/Treecreeper-150131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e15gPWOj3ug/VrOTsnIwSFI/AAAAAAAAFBs/vKPQAPyJd1U/s400/Treecreeper-150131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Treecreeper</b>, St Ives, Bingley - 31st January 2016</i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vXv_DK-xYqk/VrOTwrJqNXI/AAAAAAAAFBw/Ka0SZNToISc/s1600/Treecreeper-2-150131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vXv_DK-xYqk/VrOTwrJqNXI/AAAAAAAAFBw/Ka0SZNToISc/s400/Treecreeper-2-150131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The <b>Treecreeper</b> looked straight at us!</i></div>
<br />
We will send the result of our
survey off to the RSPB so they can add it to many others that will have
been done up and down the country. You can see our results from the last three years here: <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/next-event-big-garden-birdwatch-2015-at.html">2015</a>, <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-at-st-ives.html">2014</a> and <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-2013.html">2013</a>. The RSPB's results for last year's survey can be found <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdwatch/results.aspx">here</a>.<br />
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Thank you to everyone who came and help out with this year's count. zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-59089141878045880212015-09-29T13:15:00.003-07:002015-09-29T13:15:26.143-07:00Bat Walk at St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 5th September 2015Thank you to everyone who came to our annual bat walk at <a href="http://www.friendsofstives.org.uk/index.php">St Ives, Bingley</a>, on Saturday 5th September at St Ives, Bingley. We had a great turnout of regular and new members and again the weather was perfect - for bats and humans!<br />
<br />
We met in the car park behind the St Ives visitor centre, as <b>Swallows</b> zipped around our heads. As we waited for the the sky yo darken, Cam gave the group a brief introduction to bats and their behaviour. Not that the Otters needed much introduction - they already knew a lot about bats already!<br />
<br />
It was a still and dry evening, which is ideal, as bats cannot “see” in the rain and so don’t come out to hunt.
British bats include 18 species – all of them quite small. The largest is the <a href="http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/noctule_bat.html">Noctule bat</a> which is still smaller than the palm of your hand. They are all insect-eating - or insectivorous - nocturnal, flying mammals.<br />
<br />
The most interesting thing about them is how they “see” so well in the dark that they can catch flying insects. They do this by “echolocation”, locating things by their echoes. To do this, bats make shouting sounds. The returning echoes give the bats information about anything that is ahead of them, including the size and shape of an insect and which way it is going.<br />
<br />
We shared out our bat detectors, which are small boxes which translate the bats’ high-pitched squeaks into sounds we can hear. Then, as darkness fell, we set off up Cross Gates Lane behind the golf club, towards the tree-lined fields and derelict barns. At the edge of the golf course, where the trees form a sheltering U-shaped area, we spotted our first <a href="http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/-common_pipistrelle-821.html">Pippistrelle bats</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owz8_JQg7Ss/Vgrw6r-ebkI/AAAAAAAAEjo/JhTAGDex24E/s1600/Crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owz8_JQg7Ss/Vgrw6r-ebkI/AAAAAAAAEjo/JhTAGDex24E/s400/Crowd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Watching bats, St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 5th September 2015</i></div>
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At the barns the detectors soon picked up bat activity in series of short, sharp stutters, but the bats themselves were harder to see. With a few torches up in the trees, we soon spotted more Pippistrelle bats. They were flying just under the canopy of the trees – where the branches spread over the lane to form a long high “tunnel” and the insects shelter from the breeze.<br />
<br />
After watching and listening at the barns we moved back down the lane and on to Coppice pond, where the water attracts lots of insects and we were able to hear <a href="http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/-daubentons_bat-815.html">Daubenton’s bats</a> - the “water bat” - moving out over the lake.
The bat species can be told apart by their behaviour and the frequency of their calls: how high or low they squeak. Though we did not find it easy to differentiate many species, there was lots of bat activity to keep us occupied.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxMzDkwIcDo/VgrxQSTzLPI/AAAAAAAAEjw/1_eqqOSCjkw/s1600/Crayfish1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxMzDkwIcDo/VgrxQSTzLPI/AAAAAAAAEjw/1_eqqOSCjkw/s400/Crayfish1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Looking for crayfish, St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 5th September 2015</i></div>
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As a bonus to the evening, one of our younger members pointed out that there were small fish close in to the lake shore and we saw a few boldly striped perch. We also saw lots of <b>white-clawed crayfish</b> in the shallows. These are small, fresh-water lobster-like crustaceans. Their presence in numbers is encouraging, as St Ives have undertaken work to encourage the endangered white-clawed crayfish in Coppice Pond. Our torches also found a <b>Moorhen</b>, roosting in a flimsy branch overhanging the pond. This may seem an odd place for us to sleep, but for a Moorhen it's the perfect place to sleep safe from Mink and other predators.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KN-nxwR5lBg/VgrwnLaK0hI/AAAAAAAAEjg/cJf53kszNCI/s1600/Moorhen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KN-nxwR5lBg/VgrwnLaK0hI/AAAAAAAAEjg/cJf53kszNCI/s400/Moorhen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Moorhen</b>, St Ives, Bingley - Saturday 5th September 2015</i></div>
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Thank you to everyone who came and made this such an enjoyable event.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-6687656061409000692015-07-13T14:43:00.000-07:002015-07-13T14:43:18.700-07:00Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, Baildon - Sunday 12th July 2015We had great event at <a href="http://www.dm-naturereserve.org.uk/">Denso-Marston nature reserve</a> on Sunday 12th July. Warden Steve Warrillow again did a great job in showing us the delights of this lovely little reserve, which is
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zWs9thar0xpk.kDvIaWVEqr-4&usp=sharing">tucked away by the River Aire in Baildon</a>.<br />
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Steve had set a moth trap the night before and had kept some of the more interesting species. So after a good look at some fascinating moths, our first job was to help release them back into the wild.<br />
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We headed next to the east end of the reserve, where areas of grass and wildflowers had been encouraged to overgrow. This was a great area for bugs, and Steve pointed out that Grass Snakes live here too! After a quick lesson in "sweeping", using a butterfly net to sweep up insects from the grass, we started our bug hunt.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TW0qHTlDB4Q/VaQnMFD3wXI/AAAAAAAAEC8/_e0Fvmq4Q7s/s1600/Sweeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TW0qHTlDB4Q/VaQnMFD3wXI/AAAAAAAAEC8/_e0Fvmq4Q7s/s400/Sweeping.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Steve gives us a lesson in sweeping for bugs!</i></div>
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We found plenty of <b>Grass</b> <b>Bugs</b> and red-and-black <b>Soldier</b> <b>Beetles</b>, as well as <b>Harlequin</b> <b>Ladybirds</b>. We found at least three beautiful, delicate <b>Azure</b> <b>Damselflies</b> - one female and two males. Interestingly, we found lots of tiny young <b>Common Toads</b> in the grass too.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QSvzgWGnkjc/VaQoGkv17cI/AAAAAAAAEDM/y3aDej6IsgU/s1600/Azure-Damselfly-150627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QSvzgWGnkjc/VaQoGkv17cI/AAAAAAAAEDM/y3aDej6IsgU/s400/Azure-Damselfly-150627.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Azure</b> <b>Damselfly</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, July 2015</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FH_y_rYYC40/VaQoakg_uLI/AAAAAAAAEDU/r7YReKMzC8I/s1600/Frog-Toad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FH_y_rYYC40/VaQoakg_uLI/AAAAAAAAEDU/r7YReKMzC8I/s400/Frog-Toad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Young <b>Common Toad</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, July 2015</i></div>
<br />Despite threatening to rain at first, the weather improved and we marched over to the west end of the reserve to explore the wood. In the woodland, Steve had placed several wooden boards to create living spaces
for mammals and amphibians. We were encouraged to lift up these boards to see what lives beneath.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--kPbp4nGePU/VaQqQBk-xyI/AAAAAAAAEDg/GB3ENI1sBj8/s1600/Boards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--kPbp4nGePU/VaQqQBk-xyI/AAAAAAAAEDg/GB3ENI1sBj8/s400/Boards.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Lifting the boards</i></div>
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Most of the boards had <b>Wood Mouse</b> or <b>Short-tail Field Vole</b> nests under them. Many had fresh cherries under them, with lots of gnawed cherry stones. It seemed the longer the boards had been in place, the more evidence of life we found. As we lifted one board we saw a <b>Wood Mouse</b>
running away! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEd2zExHlK8/VaQrBhFqIHI/AAAAAAAAEDw/vLAju4Z8LLM/s1600/wider-Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEd2zExHlK8/VaQrBhFqIHI/AAAAAAAAEDw/vLAju4Z8LLM/s400/wider-Pond.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Pond dipping</i></div>
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We ended with a great pond dipping session. Everyone caught a varied array of species, and clearly learnt to identify many of them too. There were quite a few tiny young<b> Smooth Newts</b> in many of the trays. We also caught plenty of invertebrates with fantastic names! Such as: <b>Backswimmers</b>, <b>Greater</b> and <b>Lesser
Water-boatmen</b>, <b>Hog Louse</b>, <b>Blood</b> <b>Worm,</b> <b>Flatworm</b>, <b>Water</b> <b>Mite</b>, <b>Pond</b> <b>Skater</b>, and
<b>Phantom</b> <b>Midge</b>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ibzf51NPbHU/VaQuDNwO-zI/AAAAAAAAEEE/PXVk8IxtUjs/s1600/Large-Red-Damselfly-150627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ibzf51NPbHU/VaQuDNwO-zI/AAAAAAAAEEE/PXVk8IxtUjs/s400/Large-Red-Damselfly-150627.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Large Red</b> <b>Damselfly</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, July 2015</i></div>
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Around the pond edges were many <b>Azure</b> <b>Damselflies</b> and <b>Large</b> <b>Red Damselflies</b>. Our eagle-eyed Otters also found three dragonfly <i>exuvia</i> (the exoskeleton "skins" from which the adult dragonflies emerge when the dragonfly larvae crawl out out of the pond), from a <b>Brown </b>or<b> Southern Hawker</b>.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EF1Qj6tsWNE/VaQtxKhlehI/AAAAAAAAED8/QF6sHE9UwI8/s1600/Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EF1Qj6tsWNE/VaQtxKhlehI/AAAAAAAAED8/QF6sHE9UwI8/s400/Dragon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Hawker dragonfly exuvia</b> - Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, July 2015</i></div>
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Another really enjoyable event - thank you to all the families who attended. zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-85126294486030784072015-06-22T14:19:00.003-07:002015-06-24T04:02:58.547-07:00Wildlife Day, Rodley Nature Reserve, Leeds - Saturday 19th June 2015Thank you to everyone who came to the Wildlife Day at <a href="http://www.rodleynaturereserve.org/">Rodley Nature Reserve</a> on Saturday 19th June. We had a great turnout and everyone was rewarded for getting up early with some great activities laid on by the reserve staff!<br />
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At 8:30 am the reserve team opened the <b>moth traps</b> they'd set the
night before. They was an incredible array of moths for us to see, hold and study. We then placed the moths safely in the hedge once they had been catalogued.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rs2JtnGDa-w/VYhxoeO27xI/AAAAAAAAD6c/TBt8WyOuS0s/s1600/Moth-traps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rs2JtnGDa-w/VYhxoeO27xI/AAAAAAAAD6c/TBt8WyOuS0s/s400/Moth-traps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Checking through the moths</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xA-E9yjcfko/VYhxm9BaXLI/AAAAAAAAD5s/j7zZowjUsDA/s1600/Buff-Ermine-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xA-E9yjcfko/VYhxm9BaXLI/AAAAAAAAD5s/j7zZowjUsDA/s400/Buff-Ermine-2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Buff Ermine Moth</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7FPl3edxhg/VYhxnLVjI3I/AAAAAAAAD50/v3ouBrBdUq8/s1600/Clouded-Boarder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7FPl3edxhg/VYhxnLVjI3I/AAAAAAAAD50/v3ouBrBdUq8/s400/Clouded-Boarder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Clouded Border Moth</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlTGdQqU1BE/VYhxnAC8YVI/AAAAAAAAD5w/9dGKBfSBlD8/s1600/Common-Swift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlTGdQqU1BE/VYhxnAC8YVI/AAAAAAAAD5w/9dGKBfSBlD8/s400/Common-Swift.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Common Swift Moth</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7go8vSZWqkQ/VYhxnmQtTmI/AAAAAAAAD54/2HKT7QSDkDI/s1600/Elephant-HM-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7go8vSZWqkQ/VYhxnmQtTmI/AAAAAAAAD54/2HKT7QSDkDI/s400/Elephant-HM-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Elephant Hawk-moth</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua83791DVlA/VYhxnzb2JRI/AAAAAAAAD58/UXgNN1r_NU0/s1600/Elephant-HM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua83791DVlA/VYhxnzb2JRI/AAAAAAAAD58/UXgNN1r_NU0/s400/Elephant-HM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Elephant Hawk-moth</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJi_ZAhabHY/VYhxoDhbybI/AAAAAAAAD6A/8C6Zoq1TYCQ/s1600/Ghost-Moths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJi_ZAhabHY/VYhxoDhbybI/AAAAAAAAD6A/8C6Zoq1TYCQ/s400/Ghost-Moths.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Ghost</b> <b>Moth</b> (male top, female below)<b><br /></b></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bIbvgyfkqNc/VYhxojl1xOI/AAAAAAAAD6I/CIfRqnbssZo/s1600/White-Ermine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bIbvgyfkqNc/VYhxojl1xOI/AAAAAAAAD6I/CIfRqnbssZo/s400/White-Ermine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Buff Ermine Moth</b></i></div>
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Then it was time for the <b>small-mammal survey</b>. The Rodley mammal experts had laid safe mammal traps near the visitor centre. First we needed to find them; fortunately they were marked with small flags. Around half the traps had something in them: either a <b>Field Mouse</b> or a <b>Bank Vole</b>, though occasionally we found snails inside!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P7fqRMT4Lc/VYh0OVZfHHI/AAAAAAAAD7U/SbV34Gh-qHg/s1600/Mammals3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P7fqRMT4Lc/VYh0OVZfHHI/AAAAAAAAD7U/SbV34Gh-qHg/s400/Mammals3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqeBHcKXa7A/VYh0HGtXqYI/AAAAAAAAD7I/gyKq1-b7BHc/s1600/Mammals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqeBHcKXa7A/VYh0HGtXqYI/AAAAAAAAD7I/gyKq1-b7BHc/s400/Mammals.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Opening the mammal traps</i></div>
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We then had the opportunity to dissect some <b>Barn Owl pellets</b>!<br />
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Pellets are small, sausage-shaped objects, containing the undigested
parts of food which are ejected through the mouth. Pellets do
not pass through the intestine of birds and are quite different from
droppings. They do not smell, and are not unpleasant to work with. They
consist of things like bones, teeth,
claws and beaks, insect head parts and wing cases, seed husks etc. These
are usually enclosed by softer material like fur, feathers and
vegetable fibre.<br />
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Most birds produce pellets. The more indigestible material there is in the food, the more pellets are produced. The best known birds that produce pellets are the owls and the daytime-hunting birds of prey (raptors). Owl pellets are the easiest to find and study, because they often collect beneath a favoured feeding post or roost. A Barn Owl had been roosting (sleeping) on the reserve recently and the
staff had been picking up its pellets as they found them.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sn4yNvTTUy8/VYh6IKkTscI/AAAAAAAAD7o/o1rQfu4B2b0/s1600/Pellets-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sn4yNvTTUy8/VYh6IKkTscI/AAAAAAAAD7o/o1rQfu4B2b0/s400/Pellets-2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c3Tle_8x8m0/VYh6MxPHlGI/AAAAAAAAD7w/1KXMm-w0p4Q/s1600/Pellets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c3Tle_8x8m0/VYh6MxPHlGI/AAAAAAAAD7w/1KXMm-w0p4Q/s400/Pellets.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Dissecting owl pellets</i></div>
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The
day continued with more events: <b>pond
dipping</b>, a <b>bug hunt</b>, a <b>wild flower walk</b>, and a trip to the reserve's <b>fish pass</b>. Here's just some of the wildlife we encountered around the reserve:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OcHDRLEpTBo/VYh6xPs-WWI/AAAAAAAAD74/FVe2Y2NPiq4/s1600/7-spot-LB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OcHDRLEpTBo/VYh6xPs-WWI/AAAAAAAAD74/FVe2Y2NPiq4/s400/7-spot-LB.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>7-spot Ladybird</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMMW1DI79V0/VYh6yr7Z_WI/AAAAAAAAD8A/jC4x3bsWB9k/s1600/Banded-Snail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMMW1DI79V0/VYh6yr7Z_WI/AAAAAAAAD8A/jC4x3bsWB9k/s400/Banded-Snail.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i><b>Banded Snail</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1qhrTWDdI3Y/VYh63jdBhlI/AAAAAAAAD8I/1PUntnqkF58/s1600/Bullfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1qhrTWDdI3Y/VYh63jdBhlI/AAAAAAAAD8I/1PUntnqkF58/s400/Bullfinch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Bullfinch</i></b><i> (female)</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgDoYoEXG9M/VYh6319EIHI/AAAAAAAAD8M/yvj7JPTwico/s1600/Chiffchaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgDoYoEXG9M/VYh6319EIHI/AAAAAAAAD8M/yvj7JPTwico/s400/Chiffchaff.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<b><i>Chiffchaff</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPGLGBmh0Uc/VYh6_USoydI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/T60GgGi0fPA/s1600/Common-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPGLGBmh0Uc/VYh6_USoydI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/T60GgGi0fPA/s400/Common-Tern.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Common Tern</b> with chick</i></div>
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<b><i>Gadwall</i></b><i> with chicks</i></div>
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<i><b>Small Copper Butterfly</b></i></div>
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Thanks
again 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.<br />
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-84488459807609721262015-06-13T07:24:00.003-07:002017-06-09T13:36:26.520-07:00Moorland Walk, Whetstone Gate, Rombalds Moor - Sunday 7th June 2015A big thank you to everyone who came on our <b>Moorland Walk</b> event. The weather turned in our favour just at the right time, and after starting out cloudy we enjoyed glorious sunshine by the end.<br />
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Our plan was to look for specialist moorland birds - ones adapted to live and breed on the exposed hills. One such bird is the <b>Red Grouse</b>, and it wasn’t long before one flew up from the heather beside the path and landed on a nearby wall, letting out its croaky call as it flew. These birds are adapted to keep warm and dry in cold upland areas, having round, stocky bodies with feathers covering their legs. The bird we saw appeared to be a male - these have a much brighter red “comb” above their eyes, which becomes even brighter during the breeding season.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VaVrkxlbPmQ/VXw5S466SdI/AAAAAAAADyU/mSd-WYvj6Qg/s1600/RedGrouse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VaVrkxlbPmQ/VXw5S466SdI/AAAAAAAADyU/mSd-WYvj6Qg/s400/RedGrouse2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Typical of view of a <b>Red Grouse</b>, hiding in the heather</i></div>
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Many wading birds breed on moors, such as Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe and Golden Plover. Most people associate waders with wetlands, mudflats and the seashore. Their long legs are adapted for wading in shallow water and their long bills for probing mud and sand. Moors are often very wet and marshy, and can also be have quite sandy soil, allowing the long-billed waders to feed effectively. <br />
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A <b>Lapwing</b> frequently flew above us as we walked, calling as we passed a his territory, giving us great views of this beautiful bird. Sadly, the British Lapwing breeding population has been declining for a number of years, probably because of changes to farming methods. All around us we could hear the fabulous call of the <b>Curlew</b> - a very evocative moorland sound. We saw several flying and calling nearby, proclaiming their territories.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjMi70uMvko/VXw87UMnooI/AAAAAAAADzU/Y-j-3SfdhJw/s1600/Curlew-copyrightPaulMarfell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NjMi70uMvko/VXw87UMnooI/AAAAAAAADzU/Y-j-3SfdhJw/s400/Curlew-copyrightPaulMarfell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i> <b>Curlew</b>, Baildon Moor </i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo: Paul Marfell)</span></i></div>
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Another bird we wanted to see was the <b>Red Kite</b>, and it wasn’t long before Cam spotted two in the distance towards Bingley. But soon after we saw another, and much closer. A majestic bird of prey, and becoming more common in Airedale since they've been reintroduced into nearby Wharfedale over the last couple of decades. Unlike most raptors, Red Kites don’t catch and kill much live prey, other than some small mammals, young birds, and earthworms. They scavenge for carrion - dead animals - on moors and farmland and by the roadside.<br />
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<i><b>Red Kite</b>, Rombalds Moor - Sunday, 7th June 2015</i></div>
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<i>Watching <b>Red Kites</b> and <b>Lapwing</b></i></div>
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Another bird we wanted to see was the <b>Golden Plover</b>, a beautiful black, white, and golden-brown bird, and a close relative of the Lapwing. We settled down by some rocks and scanned a flat area of moorland below us. We could hear the birds, making their sad-sounding “peoo” calls, but couldn't see them. We could also hear the songs of <b>Meadow Pipits</b> who, like Skylarks, sing as they rise into the the air. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-It-jC3G0_hs/VXw7Rp0-orI/AAAAAAAADy0/zHbEySZp6Do/s1600/Looking-for-Goldies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-It-jC3G0_hs/VXw7Rp0-orI/AAAAAAAADy0/zHbEySZp6Do/s400/Looking-for-Goldies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Looking for <b>Golden Plovers</b></i></div>
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A welcome surprise while we were looking for the Golden Plovers was a <b>Green Hairstreak</b> butterfly. In the north of England these butterflies specialise on living on moors and bogs. They have dark brown upper wings, but when they are at rest they close their wings to reveal the bright green underside. <br />
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<i><b>Green Hairstreak</b>, Rombalds Moor - Sunday, 7th June 2015</i></div>
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<i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dpY1ydpka8/VXw74J6f7FI/AAAAAAAADzE/e1YjPWaIIs0/s1600/Photographing-Green-Hairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dpY1ydpka8/VXw74J6f7FI/AAAAAAAADzE/e1YjPWaIIs0/s400/Photographing-Green-Hairstreak.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div>
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<i>Photographing the Green Hairstreak butterfly</i></div>
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Another really interesting and enjoyable walk, with plenty to see and learn.zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-52797428206481597372015-05-18T06:39:00.001-07:002015-05-18T06:39:11.472-07:00Woodland Bird Race, Shipley Glen - Sunday, 17th May, 2015Thanks for all the young birdwatchers who joined us in our Bird Race at Shipley Glen on Sunday 17th May. We split into two teams (Pied Flycatchers
and Chiffchaffs) and set out to find as many bird species as we could in 90
minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N11bsMLqeDs/VVnpLrdiKTI/AAAAAAAADvI/bB1NKH9hMZ0/s1600/Bluebells-150517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N11bsMLqeDs/VVnpLrdiKTI/AAAAAAAADvI/bB1NKH9hMZ0/s400/Bluebells-150517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Bluebells</b>, Shipley Glen - Sunday 17th May, 2015</i></div>
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The Pied Flycatchers won with total of 29 birds seen
or heard! The two teams recorded a combined total of 32 bird species. Well done to
everyone!<br />
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Here's the combined list all the birds we identified:<br />
Mallard, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Feral Pigeon, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch,
Treecreeper, Swallow, Swift, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, Wren,
Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Starling, Blue Tit,
Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, and Chaffinch. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dIsoyZEH3e0/VVnpNskJyWI/AAAAAAAADvQ/TsSei_uMiR4/s1600/Treecreeper-150517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dIsoyZEH3e0/VVnpNskJyWI/AAAAAAAADvQ/TsSei_uMiR4/s400/Treecreeper-150517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Treecreeper</b>, Shipley Glen - Sunday 17th May, 2015</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Sy2wDYl_Nk/VVnpNrC0VLI/AAAAAAAADvU/t3LShMFptP0/s1600/Grey-Herons-150517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Sy2wDYl_Nk/VVnpNrC0VLI/AAAAAAAADvU/t3LShMFptP0/s400/Grey-Herons-150517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Grey Herons</b>, Shipley Glen - Sunday 17th May, 2015</i></div>
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Shipley Glen is a steep-sided, wooded ravine (also called a
clough), with a stream running into a small reservoir at the southern
end. It has some rocky outcrops and is bordered by wildlflower
meadows, grazing pasture and moorland. Different bird species like different habitats, so the area around Shipley Glen is a great place to see lots of bird species. It's also a good area for other types of animals and plants. One team found lots of young Common Frogs in the damp meadow, while we were listening for bird calls. <br />
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<i><b>Common Frog</b>, Shipley Glen - Sunday 17th May, 2015</i></div>
zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-63609362121386204212015-04-26T09:29:00.001-07:002015-04-27T03:54:36.908-07:00Wildlife Walk at St Ives, Bingley - Sunday 26th April 2015We had a lovely wildlife walk around St Ives, Bingley, for our April event. We had everything we could ask for: bright sunshine, some nice wildlife moments and a really good turnout!<br />
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We met at 10:30 at the courtyard beside the St Ives visitor centre, as the newly-returned <b>Swallows</b> swooped over our heads. The stables at St Ives are a great place watch these fantastic birds nesting throughout the spring and summer.<br />
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Our route took us first up past the golf course, where the Swallows were zooming low over the grass in search of low-flying insects and a male <b>Common Pheasant</b> strutted his stuff. <b>Chiffchaffs</b> and <b>Willow Warblers</b> - migrant birds fresh in from Africa - were singing in the trees. These two species look almost identical to one another, and the best way to tell them apart is by their song. Willow Warblers do a lovely, happy, descending song; while Chiffchaffs repeatedly sing their name, "chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff".<br />
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You can find out more about these and all the other British birds on the RSPB website: <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/">http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/</a>.<br />
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We came to a field where a <b>Little Owl</b> is often seen on the wall, but it surprised us by being sat in a tree for once! It was quite far away so it wasn't easy to see - and they're called Little Owls because they are quite little!<br />
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<i><b>Little Owl</b>, St Ives, Bingley - Sunday 26th April, 2015</i></div>
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We moved on to the old barns, where we often see and hear Pippistrelle bats on <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/bat-walk-at-st-ives-bingley-700pm.html">our bat walks</a>. This time we spotted a different kind of mammal: a <b>Grey Squirrel</b>, snoozing on a window ledge!<br />
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<i><b>Grey Squirrel</b>, St Ives, Bingley - Sunday 26th April, 2015</i></div>
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Around the top of the estate by Altar Lane some of us were very lucky to see a pair of <b>Treecreepers</b> building a nest! These small mouse-like birds often nest is little crevices in trees and under strips of bark. The birds were gathering grass, small twigs and moss to line their nest in gap in a tree trunk, occasionally making their very high-pitched calls. Meanwhile, the rest of the group were treated to two <b>Blue Tits</b> using an old tennis ball for nesting material!<br />
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We made our way past the heath and Lady Blantyre's Rock, near to <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/fungi-foray-at-st-ives-bingley-sunday.html">where we have done Fungi Forays before</a>, and down to Coppice Pond, passing more Chiffchaffs and Treecreepers on the way.<br />
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<b>Mallards</b>, <b>Canada Geese</b>, <b>Coots</b> and <b>Moorhens</b> were squabbling on the pond when we arrived. We rounded off the event with a quick look at the bird hide.<br />
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<i> Looking for the Little Owl, St Ives, Bingley - Sunday 26th April, 2015</i></div>
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Thank you to everyone who joined us a great walk in some fine weather! <br />
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<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-35443871395281578272015-04-16T05:49:00.003-07:002016-03-22T06:32:30.836-07:00Spring Wildlife Walk, Bingley - Sunday 22nd March 2015We had a lovely walk along the River Aire on the morning of Sunday 22nd March, looking for evidence of Otters and signs of Spring.<br />
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<i>Airedale Otters on the bridge over Harden Beck</i></div>
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The weather was perfect - warm and sunny and very Springlike. We met at Bingley Market Cross and followed the river downstream to Myrtle Park.<br />
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We soon spotted a pair of <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/g/greywagtail/">Grey Wagtails</a></b> bobbing along the river. These relatives of the more familiar black-and-white <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/p/piedwagtail/">Pied Wagtail</a></b> are only partially grey. Their most obvious plumage colour is the bright yellow of their breasts.<br />
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It wasn't long before we found our first Otter spraint! Otters leave “spraints” – what we would call poo – on prominent rocks along the river, to mark out their territory.<br />
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<i>Cameron, Airedale Otters leader, collects the Otter spraint</i></div>
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<i>The first Otter spraint we found</i></div>
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The trees were full of birdsong - a clear sign the breeding season has started. We could smell the delicious <b>Wild Garlic</b> growing on the river bank, and further on we found <b>Lesser Celandine</b> - one of the first plants to flower in Spring.<br />
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<i>Lesser Celandine, Myrtle Park, Bingley</i></div>
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In the sand and mud on the river bank we looked for animal tracks, hoping to see <b><a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/otter">Otter</a></b> prints. We found some prints; but these appeared to be from an <b><a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/american-mink">American Mink</a></b>. The Mink is smaller than the Otter, and the prints are therefore smaller. Like the Otter, American Mink breeds along the River Aire; but, unlike the Otter, which developed naturally on the UK, the wild Mink population exists because of escapes from Mink farms.<br />
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<i>Minks tracks by the River Aire</i></div>
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We headed up into the woods, getting a great view over the park towards Bingley, and spotting a <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/g/goosander/">Goosander</a></b> pair on the river.<br />
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<i>Looking out over the river</i></div>
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We ended our walk with a visit to Harden Beck, before heading back along the river. Back in Bingley, we heard a <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/chiffchaff/">Chiffchaff</a></b> singing - it's a easy song to remember, because like the <b><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/cuckoo/index.aspx">Cuckoo</a></b>, it sings its name: "<i>Chiffchaff, chiffchaff, chiffchaff</i>"!<br />
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Thank you to everyone who joined us on the walk. See you next time!<br />
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<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-36970912678027265402015-03-02T03:19:00.001-08:002015-03-02T03:19:13.540-08:00Preparing our nestboxes for the new seasonThe Airedale Otters leaders recently visited <b>Deep Cliff Wood</b> in Harden to clean out the nestboxes ready for the 2015 breeding season. <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/nestboxes-are-up.html">We placed 14 nestboxes in the private wood</a> in January 2012 and have checked and cleaned them every year since then.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bySbsB-Eyqs/VPRBswq4qTI/AAAAAAAADjI/MoVJHPUXSVA/s1600/Cleaning-Feb-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bySbsB-Eyqs/VPRBswq4qTI/AAAAAAAADjI/MoVJHPUXSVA/s1600/Cleaning-Feb-15.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Cleaning a nestbox - Deep Cliff Wood, Harden, February 2015</i></div>
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While we clean the nestboxes we also check to see if any have been used in the previous breeding season, and by which species. The results for the previous years can be found here: <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/checking-nest-boxes-at-deep-cliff-wood.html">2012</a> and <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/next-event-checking-nestboxes-in-deep.html">2013</a>. The contents of the nestboxes this time will be from the 2014 breeding season.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here’s a full list of what we found this year:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Box number</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What we found</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bird poo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Partially-built Great Tit nest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Probable Nuthatch nest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empty and clean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bird poo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empty, though with some grass and poo</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empty and clean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Complete Blue Tit nest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empty and clean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Partially-built nest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empty and clean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bird poo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Complete</span> Coal Tit nest </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DJM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Complete Blue Tit nest </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>The results are very similar to previous years, with at least three completed nests and two partially-built nests. Box 23 had our first <b>Coal Tit </b>nest. For the first time, we didn't find any unhatched/failed eggs.<br />
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The most interesting find was in box 3. The bottom of the box was filled with bark and soft, dry, rotten wood from a silver birch - up to a depth of 50mm (about 2"). The most likely candidate for this nest is the <b>Nuthatch</b>, which we have seen and heard plenty of in the surrounding woodland. Let's hope they come back and nest again this year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wgXMZjh6Fk/URAgBl4EwWI/AAAAAAAAA8g/LjtJxucECb8/s1600/Nutchatch-Stephen-Lilley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wgXMZjh6Fk/URAgBl4EwWI/AAAAAAAAA8g/LjtJxucECb8/s1600/Nutchatch-Stephen-Lilley.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i> <b>Nuthatch</b> (photo <a href="http://www.stephenlilleybirdphotography.com/">Stephen Lilley</a>)</i></div>
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We also found this discarded bottle full of moss in the wood. The moss, which would normally struggle to find sunlight under all the fallen leaves, had grown in the bottle - using it like a greenhouse.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qw3uOyAViM0/VPRD_wsIReI/AAAAAAAADjU/bFCMPDBA1x4/s1600/Bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qw3uOyAViM0/VPRD_wsIReI/AAAAAAAADjU/bFCMPDBA1x4/s1600/Bottle.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i> Moss growing in a milk bottle - Deep Cliff Wood, Harden, February 2015</i></div>
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Because the bottle was on top of the leaves, the moss could have as much sunlight as it needed; while the bottle created a moist micro-climate, just as the moss prefers. It's amazing what nature can do!<br />
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-78615048635469404562015-01-16T06:50:00.002-08:002015-02-27T09:23:00.179-08:00Big Garden Birdwatch 2015 at St Ives - Sunday 25th JanuaryWe once again took part in the RSPB's <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/" target="_blank">Big Garden Birdwatch</a> for our first event of the year.<br />
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As in previous years, we met at the <b>bird hide in St Ives </b>(next to
Coppice Pond) at 10:30 and spent an hour counting the birds visiting the feeders. The Airedale Otters leaders had placed food out for
the birds before the event to ensure we would attract as many species as
possible.<br />
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This year we recorded fewer bird species than on previous years - this is probably because the weather was milder this year - but this year we had more individual birds. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyrH2pJjT5M/VPCkrTj8URI/AAAAAAAADi0/jNo2Ndimsbs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyrH2pJjT5M/VPCkrTj8URI/AAAAAAAADi0/jNo2Ndimsbs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg.jpeg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Counting the birds is great fun, and can help you improve your bird identification skills. And on the Airedale Otters Big Garden Birdwatch we have the added attraction of hot chocolate and biscuits!<br />
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We will send the result of our
survey off to the RSPB so they can add it to many others that will have
been done up and down the country. You can see our results from the last two years here: <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-at-st-ives.html">2014</a> and <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/rspb-big-garden-birdwatch-2013.html">2013</a>. The RSPB's total results for all their previous surveys can be found <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/previous-results/">here</a>.<br />
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Thank you to everyone who came and help out with this year's count.<br />
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-70992062574989253652014-11-17T14:19:00.002-08:002014-11-17T14:19:32.534-08:00Olly the Otter is on Twitter!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x1J2iJQsxfc/VGpz64ePX2I/AAAAAAAADEc/9M0LtZ5pWYM/s1600/AIredaleOtters-side-logo-TWITTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x1J2iJQsxfc/VGpz64ePX2I/AAAAAAAADEc/9M0LtZ5pWYM/s1600/AIredaleOtters-side-logo-TWITTER.jpg" height="123" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes, <a href="https://twitter.com/AiredaleOtters">Olly the Otter is now on Twitter</a>!<br />
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Parents, you can now keep up with the latest info on Airedale Otters events and local wildlife news from Bradford and Airedale by following us on Twitter.<br />
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Just click on the link below to follow us, or <a href="https://twitter.com/AiredaleOtters">click here to visit our Twitter page</a>. <br />
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<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" href="https://twitter.com/AiredaleOtters">Follow @AiredaleOtters</a></div>
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zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-38950768774069553062014-07-21T15:36:00.000-07:002014-07-28T06:24:21.868-07:00Denso-Marston Nature Reserve, Baildon - Sunday 13th JulyOn Sunday 13th July we had another excellent event at <a href="http://www.dm-naturereserve.org.uk/">Denso-Marston</a> - a fantastic little nature reserve in Baildon. <br />
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The reserve warden Steve Warrillow welcomed us and showed us the delights of this hidden gem, which is tucked away behind a factory beside the River Aire. Just like <a href="http://airedaleotters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/trip-report-denso-marston-nature.html">last year</a>, the weather and wildlife combined to great effect. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCBm1KiOwg4/U82SAgGavHI/AAAAAAAACpg/lOAm-pb7EBQ/s1600/Moth-trap-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCBm1KiOwg4/U82SAgGavHI/AAAAAAAACpg/lOAm-pb7EBQ/s400/Moth-trap-DM.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Reserve warden Steve opens the moth traps</i></div>
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Steve had earlier opened his moth trap and saved some of the best moths for us to see. There were some lovely species, with equally lovely names: Mother of Pearl, Smokey Wainscot, Buff Arches, and a beautiful Burnished Brass which glinted like polished gold in the sunshine.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1QBBmg-IDg/U82SKUEPYsI/AAAAAAAACpo/oeT8QQzdYBk/s1600/BuffArches-DM140713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1QBBmg-IDg/U82SKUEPYsI/AAAAAAAACpo/oeT8QQzdYBk/s1600/BuffArches-DM140713.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Buff Arches Moth</i></b></div>
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Next we toured the reserve seeing many insects on the wing, such as the huge Brown Hawker dragonfly - easily recognised by its brown wings.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w44OG_EkGx4/U82TzvFy0tI/AAAAAAAACqM/p1Q8mBycia0/s1600/GreySquirrel-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w44OG_EkGx4/U82TzvFy0tI/AAAAAAAACqM/p1Q8mBycia0/s1600/GreySquirrel-DM.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> A <b>Grey Squirrel </b>hid in a tree and waited for us to pass</i></div>
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In the woodland, Steve has placed several wooden boards to create spaces for mammals and amphibians. The Airedale Otters had great fun lifting up these boards, with a surprise under almost every one. On several occasions we found evidence of Wood Mouse and Short-tail Field Vole. We could tell which species had been feeding there from the bite marks on the wild cherry stones we found. We saw several Wood Mice, mostly running away as we opened the boards, though one did stay around long enough to have his photo taken!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMZwNIj814Y/U82S-v-e8VI/AAAAAAAACpw/Spz6PDP93JE/s1600/WoodMouse-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMZwNIj814Y/U82S-v-e8VI/AAAAAAAACpw/Spz6PDP93JE/s1600/WoodMouse-DM.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Wood Mouse</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8eCS5q93g4/U82TCitBrfI/AAAAAAAACp4/Hn8G1aQIA2s/s1600/WoodMouseNest-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8eCS5q93g4/U82TCitBrfI/AAAAAAAACp4/Hn8G1aQIA2s/s1600/WoodMouseNest-DM.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Wood Mouse nest</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PndUEzYKF7g/U82TgJx4n7I/AAAAAAAACqA/vH3UkJIGR1E/s1600/ST-Field-Vole-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PndUEzYKF7g/U82TgJx4n7I/AAAAAAAACqA/vH3UkJIGR1E/s1600/ST-Field-Vole-DM.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<i>Wild Cherry stones eaten by <b>Short-tailed Field Voles</b></i></div>
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Under the boards we also found Smooth Newts, young Common Toads, a Common Frog, and a Leopard Slug.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MKvhFVwJhb0/U82UhIGj4RI/AAAAAAAACqQ/mYErDq8X0yw/s1600/Frog-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MKvhFVwJhb0/U82UhIGj4RI/AAAAAAAACqQ/mYErDq8X0yw/s1600/Frog-DM.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Common Frog</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0M9v96hp_0Y/U82UhjYyfxI/AAAAAAAACqk/UA0fvq--2g0/s1600/Newt-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0M9v96hp_0Y/U82UhjYyfxI/AAAAAAAACqk/UA0fvq--2g0/s1600/Newt-DM.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Smooth Newt</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1krQ-MckeQ/U82UhrJnflI/AAAAAAAACqg/EFnMoZ7MLwo/s1600/LeopardSlug-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1krQ-MckeQ/U82UhrJnflI/AAAAAAAACqg/EFnMoZ7MLwo/s1600/LeopardSlug-DM.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Leopard Slug</b></i></div>
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Last but not least was the pond dipping. The Otters found an amazing number of species, and Steve was on hand to help us identify them. Many of the Otters proved themselves to be very knowledgeable about the pond life too. We found several young Smooth Newts, Greater and Lesser Water-boatmen, Hog Louse, Blood Worm, Flatworm, Water Mite, Pond Skater, Phantom Midge, Freshwater Mussel and Shrimp, Ram's-horn Snail, and a Whirligig Beetle (which obviously made Steve's day!).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asbBCWrWhMU/U82VAMAr4pI/AAAAAAAACqo/N8IfkHn3Hxs/s1600/Pond-dipping-DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-asbBCWrWhMU/U82VAMAr4pI/AAAAAAAACqo/N8IfkHn3Hxs/s1600/Pond-dipping-DM.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i> Pond Dipping</i></b></div>
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A really enjoyable event - thank you to all the kids and families who attended.<br />
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<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254016413075604172.post-39543220346732536352014-06-11T06:22:00.001-07:002014-07-09T15:08:01.227-07:00June Wildlife Day, Rodley Nature Reserve, Leeds - Saturday 14th June 2014This was another great event at <a href="http://www.rodleynaturereserve.org/">Rodley Nature Reserve</a>. There's always lots to see and do at this excellent child-friendly reserve between Bradford and Leeds.<br />
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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. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--DfTv3rRWo8/U720TOiNzsI/AAAAAAAACiI/OvTmjtjbAhs/s1600/ElephantHawkMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--DfTv3rRWo8/U720TOiNzsI/AAAAAAAACiI/OvTmjtjbAhs/s1600/ElephantHawkMoth.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Elephant Hawk-moth</i></b><b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HBIaDvdyorA/U720YnGpZGI/AAAAAAAACiQ/U0aSj4PgRus/s1600/BurnishedBrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HBIaDvdyorA/U720YnGpZGI/AAAAAAAACiQ/U0aSj4PgRus/s1600/BurnishedBrass.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Burnished Brass Moth</i></b><b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy7mPhVphG0/U720gQiZCSI/AAAAAAAACiY/LYxZ1CdCG7A/s1600/BuffTipMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy7mPhVphG0/U720gQiZCSI/AAAAAAAACiY/LYxZ1CdCG7A/s1600/BuffTipMoth.jpg" height="297" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i><b>Buff-tip Moths</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kQL20yUcCEU/U720kK0YV9I/AAAAAAAACig/1waYRRqImO4/s1600/PurpleMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kQL20yUcCEU/U720kK0YV9I/AAAAAAAACig/1waYRRqImO4/s1600/PurpleMoth.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Beautiful Golden Y Moth</b></i></div>
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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!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_B3L_xUeZzg/U724ENJXwDI/AAAAAAAACis/-2q_L0D5LX0/s1600/MammalSurvey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_B3L_xUeZzg/U724ENJXwDI/AAAAAAAACis/-2q_L0D5LX0/s1600/MammalSurvey.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Opening the mammal traps</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DIughHHDDD4/U724KjNdg3I/AAAAAAAACi0/YyzSlxXanlM/s1600/FieldMouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DIughHHDDD4/U724KjNdg3I/AAAAAAAACi0/YyzSlxXanlM/s1600/FieldMouse.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Field Mouse</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GJ0VnDZ1D7A/U724PRIYhwI/AAAAAAAACi8/tqg0TqFxKZU/s1600/BankVole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GJ0VnDZ1D7A/U724PRIYhwI/AAAAAAAACi8/tqg0TqFxKZU/s1600/BankVole.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><i>Bank Vole</i></b></div>
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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.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--AcAzbxV_OM/U728l3LPvPI/AAAAAAAACjU/r7yjRyN_RbE/s1600/RedKite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--AcAzbxV_OM/U728l3LPvPI/AAAAAAAACjU/r7yjRyN_RbE/s1600/RedKite.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Red Kite</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob6ybepPIZE/U728rZxYoNI/AAAAAAAACjc/In3iAupUqhU/s1600/GCG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob6ybepPIZE/U728rZxYoNI/AAAAAAAACjc/In3iAupUqhU/s1600/GCG.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Great Crested Grebe</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tx-KebXXC-8/U728wE7enzI/AAAAAAAACjk/RPXf0ZdM-48/s1600/CommonTern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tx-KebXXC-8/U728wE7enzI/AAAAAAAACjk/RPXf0ZdM-48/s1600/CommonTern.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Common Tern</b> with chicks</i></div>
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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.<br />
<br />zoopsiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536316057516762318noreply@blogger.com0