Author Archives: Francis Hickenbottom

Newmillerdam Fungi

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Please note that all names given to fungi in this post are merely suggestions! I took a walk in the woods at Newmillerdam yesterday and made further efforts to identify a few fungi. My first sighting was of an attractive … Continue reading →

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Maple Leaves in Autumn

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

In the grounds at Ackworth School yesterday, I noticed some striking leaves on an ornamental maple tree. Only a section of the tree is affected. The leaves on most of the tree are completely green. I suspect that the markings … Continue reading →

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Howell Wood Fungi

Posted on October 16, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Encouraged by this week’s talk from David Winnard on “Edible and Poisonous Plants and Fungi or the North-West,” I spent an hour in Howell Wood searching for fungi. Rain in the past few days has increased the chance of finding … Continue reading →

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Juvenile Peregrine Fatality

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Unfortunately, I received some sad news today from Mick Price of the Sorby Breck Ringing Group. Mick was one of the people who ringed our young falcons earlier this year. He reported that 3Z – one of the young males … Continue reading →

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Hedgehog at Ackworth

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

This hedgehog was spotted wandering around in broad daylight whilst young members of the Ackworth School Natural Hisory Society were heading out to do some sweep-netting for invertebrates. It’s never a good sign when a hegehog is seen during daylight … Continue reading →

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Fledgling Owls

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

In Wakefield, the tawny owl family is doing well. One of the youngsters left the nestbox earlier this week and a second one has been preparing to go by scrambling up to the entrance hole. As well as bringing in … Continue reading →

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Moths in Hemsworth

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

The moth trap regularly brings in species that I have not seen previously in my garden. Last night, a new species was the satin moth (Leucoma salicis). At first glance, this is similar to the yellow-tailed moth (Euproctis similis) but … Continue reading →

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Tawny Owl Update

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

The two oldest of the tawnyl owls in Wakefield are now approaching three weeks old and the latest picture from nestbox camera shows that all three are growing well. Meanwhile, at Ackworth the two tawny owl chicks being reared in … Continue reading →

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Juvenile Peregrines

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

People frequently ask whether the young peregrines are still around. This is a reasonable question as we do not know exactly when they will move out of the parents’ territory, though this should happen by late autumn. We’ve had one … Continue reading →

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Moth-Trapping in Hemsworth

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

In Hemsworth, the moth trap has been attracting some familiar species recently. In the following picture, clockwise from top left, there are maple button (Acleris forsskaliana), shaded broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata), peppered moth (Biston betularia) and scalloped oak (Crocallis elinguaria). When … Continue reading →

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