Category Archives: Sightings

Flowers at Wormstall Woods and Ledsham Vale

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Sue Gaynor

It was a cold, windy morning as we set off up the track to the woods but masses of celandine soon cheered us as we passed the first clump of sweet violets.  Goldilocks edged the path and as we reached … Continue reading →

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Peregrines back on the cathedral

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Francis Hickenbottom

I haven’t been into Wakefield many times in recent weeks but I visited earlier today. I didn’t have my binoculars with me and I didn’t worry about this because it is some time since I last saw a peregrine. My … Continue reading →

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White butterbur at Bretton Country Park

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Roger Gaynor

On Monday 30 March I noticed a large patch of what appears to white butterbur (Petasites albus) growing in damp shady woodland close to the gate and Dam Head Bridge and old quarry at Bretton Hall Parkland (image attached).  I … Continue reading →

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Sparrowhawk on the Westgate run!

Posted on March 29, 2015 by John Gardner

Viv Owen, an artist who has a studio on Westgate, sent me a note to say she has been watching a visitor to the fire escape metal works who had been there for most of the day. This new visitor … Continue reading →

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More signs of spring

Posted on March 7, 2015 by John Gardner

Pauline dropped me a note to say she’d seen the first coltsfoot of spring at Stanley Ferry on 6th March. Coltsfoot is a sure sign that spring is on the way, Walking around Ackworth today, I noticed that lesser celandine was … Continue reading →

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Garden birdwatch: Wrenthorpe sparrowhawk

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Roger Gaynor

How exiting can a bleary-eyed glimpse out of the upstairs windows be on a grey and grim morning at the end of February.  Usually not at all, but this morning was different when I slowly focused on a sparrowhawk perched … Continue reading →

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More barn owl sightings in Ackworth

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Francis Hickenbottom

While driving home to Hemsworth we had a barn owl fly low over the road just on the outskirts of Ackworth around the marshy end of the school playing field along Barnsley Road. This is a new location for this … Continue reading →

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Kestrel and barn owls in Ackworth

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Francis Hickenbottom

Earlier this week, I noticed some bird droppings at the base of a wall at Ackworth School. Amongst the droppings, I could see that there were many pellets. I checked the spot on two consecutive evenings and I found that a kestrel … Continue reading →

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Barn Owl in Ackworth

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Francis Hickenbottom

Just a quick note to say I spotted a barn owl flying over Carr Bridge in Ackworth tonight.

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Wakefield cathedral peregrine update

Posted on November 8, 2014 by Francis Hickenbottom

This morning two peregrines were sitting next to each other high on the cathedral spire. One bird was obviously larger than the other and must have been a female. The horizontal barring on the larger bird indicated that it was an … Continue reading →

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