Category Archives: Nature notes

Nature notes and observations from around the Wakefield district

Thornes Park in Winter

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Roger Gaynor

This week during the current Arctic weather I have been unable to reach my usual local wildlife watching countryside haunts. However, while travelling along Thornes Road, Wakefield I stopped briefly for a look at the lake at Thornes Park. There … Continue reading →

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Winter fungi

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Francis Hickenbottom

We are well into the winter but there are still some interesting fungi to be found. Common candlesnuff is easy to spot on decaying treestumps and smaller pieces of dead wood. However, if you want more of a challenge, you … Continue reading →

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Peregrine in Residence at Old Moor

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Francis Hickenbottom

Exciting news in recent weeks has been the identification of a peregrine that has taken up residence at RSPB Old Moor as PAA – a female from this year’s Wakefield Cathedral brood. Young peregrines don’t breed until two or three … Continue reading →

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Earth Tongues and Other Interesting Fungi

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

One of the things that I have learnt in recent months is that a great place to look for interesting fungi in late autumn is amongst the moss in patches of grass which have not been pampered for many years. … Continue reading →

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Fungi on Heath Common

Posted on October 29, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

Colin Booker and I had a look on Heath common yesterday to see if there were any interesting fungi. As we had hoped, we started finding colourful waxcaps almost immediately. Some waxcaps are indistinguishable without the use of a microscope … Continue reading →

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Over-Wintering Butterflies

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

I’ve been spending some time searching for waxcap mushrooms (Hygrocybe) whilst in West Wales. Today, I looked in the graveyard of the small chapel at Berea, near St Davids and I found something interesting. On some of the gravestones, there … Continue reading →

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Autumn butterflies

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Roger Gaynor

Chilly evenings and shortening daylight hours remind us that summer is now slipping away and autumn is here. This is confirmed by a bounty of sloes and elderberries, together with a good crop of acorns. A further sign of the … Continue reading →

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August field meeting at Nostell Priory

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Roger Gaynor

The Society’s final outdoor meeting of a full summer programme for this year attracted a very good attendance on 13 August 2017.  Members were greeted with a fine sunny morning and treated to some special wildlife sightings as we walked … Continue reading →

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Fungi

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

The start to the fungus season has been a good one. Many fungi are emerging in lots of locations. Colin Booker and I took a walk at Walton Colliery Country Park and started finding many fungi as soon as we … Continue reading →

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Fungal Finds

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

During a walk at Fitzwilliam Country Park, I came across some common puffballs (Lycoperdon perlatum). They were just pushing up through the moss and I thought they looked very striking. There were quite a few Russulas growing beneath silver birches … Continue reading →

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