Category Archives: Sightings

Townhills Close field meeting

Posted on June 9, 2013 by John Gardner

A good session at this new location for our field meeting though many of the orchids we’d expected were hardly out due to the very late spring. Bush Vetch Red Clover White Clover Meadow Buttercup Ribwort Plantain Yellow Rattle Goat’s … Continue reading →

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Brockadale YWT wild flower walk

Posted on June 4, 2013 by John Gardner

The wildflower group were out and about again today, this time at Brockadale YWT reserve and Sue has sent in this list of sightings: Cow Parsley (abundant) Ox-eye daisy Salad Burnet Kidney vetch Ground Ivy Wood Avens Yellow Vetchling Lesser … Continue reading →

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Outdoor meeting: Ox-close Woods

Posted on May 11, 2013 by John Gardner

A good turn out for the first of the summer field meetings this morning, great to see everyone. We had a really good guided walk around Ox-close Woods at East Keswick where we had some superb botanical finds, including goldilocks, … Continue reading →

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More spring sightings

Posted on April 20, 2013 by John Gardner

Mark Archer sent in a report from Walton Nature Reserve which included the following: 2 grass snakes, 6 brimstone butterflies, 8 peacock butterflies and cuckoo. Flowers in bloom included cowslip, wood anenome, colt’s-foot and celandine. Brimstones were recorded at Walton Hall … Continue reading →

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Sightings: 18th April

Posted on April 18, 2013 by John Gardner

Mark Archer reports 3 common sandpipers on the River Calder at Smalley Bight sewage works, Stanley. They can be seen flitting along the river banks. Also a number of swallows there as well. Swallows seen at Newmillerdam, Cold Hiendley and Ryhill … Continue reading →

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Is spring finally here?

Posted on April 13, 2013 by John Gardner

Brighter weather today and much warmer, if a little windy but definitely feels like spring is in the air. Mark Archer was at Southern Washlands this morning an had the first 5 sand martins of the year at the site … Continue reading →

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Waxwings in Ryhill and at Pugneys

Posted on January 18, 2013 by John Gardner

Just answered the phone and as I approached the dining room window to pick up the receiver, I thought I could hear waxwings. Looking out of the window, there were 27 waxwings in the top of the oak tree in … Continue reading →

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Goosander at Newmillerdam

Posted on January 17, 2013 by John Gardner

Went out with the camera today and as I passed Newmillerdam, I noticed two drake goosander very close to the outfall opposite Beauly Cafe. I pulled into the car park but as soon as I stepped out of the car … Continue reading →

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Waxwings at Redcats

Posted on January 16, 2013 by John Gardner

Wow! Heavy hoar frost and cold temperatures today! As I drove down to my studio I noticed half a dozen waxwings in the trees at the entrance to Redcats factory at Crigglestone.

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Brockodale: Stinking Helibore

Posted on January 11, 2013 by John Gardner

On a walk around Brockodale YWT reserve today, Colin Booker came across this fine example of stinking helibore (Helleborus foetidus), a local speciality plant which gets it’s name from the unpleasant odour given off when its leaves are crushed. Colin … Continue reading →

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