-
Recent Posts
Recent comments
- Rosie on Alder Leaf Beetle at Fitzwilliam
- Dr Mike Goodman on Alder Leaf Beetle at Fitzwilliam
- Andrew Hubbertz on Otter at Ackworth
- Mrs Geraldine Maclachlan on Alder Leaf Beetle at Fitzwilliam
- Kenneth Wilson-Oldridge on Wakefield peregrine taxidermy unveiled
Archives
- February 2024
- September 2023
- May 2023
- August 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- January 2022
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- June 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- January 2020
- August 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- January 2019
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- August 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- November 2011
- September 2011
Author Archives: Francis Hickenbottom
Peregrine Chicks, 2017
The peregrines on Wakefield Cathedral have been incubating four eggs for almost five weeks. The first hatching was expected on Tuesday, 2nd May, 34 days after the laying of the third egg. On Tuesday afternoon, it was clear that something … Continue reading
Posted in Nature notes
Tagged falcons, nestcam, raptors, Wakefield cathedral, Wakefield peregrines
28 Comments
Alder Leaf Beetle at Fitzwilliam
I was walking around Fitzwilliam Country Park this afternoon when I spotted lots of metallic black/blue beetles on the leaves of an alder. I think the alder is Italian alder (Alnus cordata). I believe that the beetles are Alder Leaf … Continue reading
Spring Moth-Trapping
The weather has been a bit cool but I have put out the moth trap on a couple of nights this week. There was a threat of some overnight drizzle, so I used my usual arrangement of a tripod and … Continue reading
Posted in Nature notes
Tagged insects, invertebrates, lepidoptera, minibeasts, mothing, wakefield insects
Leave a comment
Peregrine Update
This year’s clutch was completed with the laying of a fourth egg just after 3 a.m. on 1st April. The birds have, therefore, been incubating for a little over two weeks and they are well into their usual routine. The … Continue reading
Morels at Stanley
It’s the time of year for morel mushrooms to appear but they can be hard to find. They are significantly less common in the north-east of England than in some southern counties and they are more numerous in some years than … Continue reading
Spring Sightings
During a walk at Howell Wood, South Kirby, I found masses of opposite-leaved golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) in flower along the banks of a stream. This is an attractive and common plant but it isn’t as well known as some of … Continue reading
Spring Fungus Search
Spring isn’t the obvious time for searching for fungi but I gave it a try today. My first significant find was a white growth on the side of a silver birch stump in Seckar Wood. It looked like a blob … Continue reading
Bleach Cup
Continuing my mission to improve my knowledge of fungi, I have been searching for spring fungi. I had a look in an old orchard, which some books say are potential sites for morels, and I found this large brown fungus … Continue reading
First Peregrine Egg of 2017
The peregrines remained on the cathedral throughout the winter, holding onto their nest site and chasing away intruders regularly. They have spent recent weeks preparing to breed by carrying out ledge displays and making a nest scrape. Last year’s first … Continue reading
Woodcock Casualty
I very occasionally see woodcock flying at Ackworth at dusk but I don’t usually get a good look at one. This week, students in the junior school found this bird lying dead after it had flown into a window. During the daytime, … Continue reading