Author Archives: John Gardner

Wakefield RSPB Members Group Prestige Lecture

Posted on January 6, 2015 by John Gardner

One of the RSPB’s longest serving staff members will be visiting Ossett on Thursday 22 January to give a talk entitled ‘Birds without Borders’, a presentation using some of the latest research findings and illustrated with his own photographs from … Continue reading →

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Little Auk at Wintersett

Posted on November 6, 2014 by John Gardner

With little auks being seen off the coast in good numbers over the last few days, it may not have been entirely unexpected that one would turn up inland but it was certainly a massive find for one birder at … Continue reading →

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September meeting: Madagascar by Pete Williamson

Posted on September 9, 2014 by John Gardner

It’s always good to hear a lecture from one of our own members and tonight’s talk by Pete on his birding trip to Madagascar was no exception. Pete gave us a lively and entertaining talk about his visit to this … Continue reading →

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Buzzards on the move

Posted on August 30, 2014 by John Gardner

A few years ago, buzzard would have been a remarkable sighting in Wakefield but now it is a common place bird. Today though, it became a garden tick for me while doing a bit of pruning. Overhead I heard a … Continue reading →

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August field meeting cancelled

Posted on August 10, 2014 by John Gardner

Due to the imminent threat of Hurricane Bertha arriving anytime now, we have decided to call off this morning’s meeting to Adel Dam. It looks as though it would have been a pretty wet and windy walk had we gone … Continue reading →

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Common lizard at Brockadale

Posted on July 20, 2014 by John Gardner

I was at Brockadale today and came across a colony of common lizard basking in the warm sunshine. There were three adults and around 6+ baby lizards. I hadn’t realised they occurred here and never expected to find common lizard … Continue reading →

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Wildflower walk at Brockadale

Posted on July 10, 2014 by John Gardner

The car park area on Ley Lane was so full of beautiful meadow crane’s bill, small-flowered crane’s bill, white campion, dropwort and creeping cinquefoil that it took a while for the group to progress onto the track to the left … Continue reading →

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Ruby-tailed wasps

Posted on July 9, 2014 by John Gardner

The wall at the back of our dining room is a real sun trap and I often have a glance at it to see what insects are there basking on the hot bricks. Today I was rewarded with two or … Continue reading →

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Marbled whites at Brockadale

Posted on June 24, 2014 by John Gardner

If anyone is thinking of visiting Brockadale for the marbled whites, they are absolutely at their peak just now. Many have only just hatched and are in immaculate condition and are on the wing with ringlet and meadow brown. I had … Continue reading →

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Great northern diver in Mirfield

Posted on June 12, 2014 by John Gardner

I’m well out of the birding loop these days and I’ve only just got wind of a long staying great northern diver at Lady Lakes in Mirfield which has been there for about 5 months! Thinking there might be a … Continue reading →

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