Author Archives: Francis Hickenbottom

Additions to the Peregrine Prey List

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

We carried out a check of the tower yesterday, for the final time before the start of the breeding season. We found some of the usual remains, such as little grebe, teal, golden plover and snipe but we also found … Continue reading →

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Algae Under the Microscope

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

Members of the Ackworth Shool Natural History Society had a look at some algae under the microscope this evening and I took some pictures, using my mobile phone, of what they saw. The first image shows a collection of all … Continue reading →

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Willow Bracket

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

Next to Hemsworth Water Park there is some very marshy woodland, in which there is a particularly fine display of marsh marigolds every spring. That’s something to watch out for in the coming weeks. There are some large crack willows … Continue reading →

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Common Turkeytail

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

During a walk around my local patch, I spotted this Turkeytail fungus growing a the dead branch of a willow in a marshy area behind the Water Park at Hemsworth. It’s a very common species but I thought that this … Continue reading →

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Otter at Ackworth

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

I’ve seen mink on the Went at Ackworth School in the past and I’ve recently spent some time trying to get trailcam video, without success. I was very pleased, therefore, to find out earlier today that some of the groundsmen … Continue reading →

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Birding at Old Moor

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Three members of the society converged on RSPB Old Moor yesterday and enjoyed seeing ducks and other waterfowl illuminated by warm winter sunlight. Many teal were feeding in the shallows and there were lots of gadwall and wigeon and a … Continue reading →

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Hedgehog Activity

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

We have seen hedgehogs in the garden recently and I thought it would be a good idea to provide a home for one. Some years ago, I made a hedgehog house using wood. It was a large box with a … Continue reading →

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Clustered Bonnet

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

I’m chipping away at the fungi as I try to develop some identification skills to take me beyond the easily identified common and conspicuously marked species. During a walk at Howell wood, South Kirkby today, I spotted a clump of … Continue reading →

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Silverleaf Fungus

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

At Ackworth School, the pupils in the junior school enjoy their “Forest Schools” sessions in a small area of woodland within the school grounds. The gardeners have created a ring of seats for them by embedding sections of log into … Continue reading →

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Honey Fungus

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Members of the Ackworth School Natural History Society carried out a fungal foray in the school grounds this evening. They found a number of species but one large clump stood out from the others. We often get clumps of fairly … Continue reading →

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