Tawny Mining Bees

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Each year, the grassed area around Wakefield Cathedral is the place to spot tawny mining bees (Andrena fulva). During the past week, they have created many small “volcanoes” as they have excavated their burrows.

Burrows of Tawny Mining Bees

Sunny weather has brought the bees out but a chill in the air has slowed some of them down, making them easier to observe and photograph.

Tawny Mining Bee

In this picture, taken using a mobile phone, it’s possible to see not only the large compound eyes but also the simple eyes (ocelli) on the top of the bee’s head.

Ten Days to Hatching

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

With approximately ten days of incubation remaining, it is interesting to see a change in the behaviour of the male peregrine.

During the first three two weeks of incubation, he stopped bringing food to the box. However, in recent days he has increased the frequency of his visits to the box and he has started to bring in offerings of food. In the image shown below, the male simply visits the box and then departs. He might have stashed food for the female before offering to take over incubation. This was his habit last year.

The male pays a visit to the nestbox.

Yesterday, he took what appeared to be a pigeon to the box and the female flew away with this to feed as the male took over incubation. A couple of hours later, after the female had returned to the eggs, the male made two attempts to deliver a small prey item – possibly a house sparrow – but his offer was declined.

Wormstall Woods flower walk

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Sue Gaynor

It was a clear, warm day as we stopped to admire the first clump of sweet violets; sadly the distinctive perfume was indiscernible. To the right of the path lesser celandine interspersed with dark bluebells covered the field, we were convinced the bluebells were native as the flowers drooped mostly to one side – the flowers in the Spanish variety go all round the stem.

The goldilocks buttercup was hard to find amongst the celandine, the flower never looks complete as it only has two or three sparse petals. Entering the wood, the dry floor was carpeted with tiny common dog violet and early dog violet with a few patches of wood anemone, a little past their best. The spurge laurel which flowered in January now has plenty of seed pods which will turn black later on. Turning left onto the sunny bank at the edge of the field a variety of bees and peacock butterflies were feeding on the ground ivy, lesser celandine, barren strawberry and field speedwell.

Goldilocks buttercup

Spurge laurel

Raptors on the move

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Eddie Andrassy

An osprey was recorded flying low over Stanley Ferry Flash today, it was heading north, mobbed by carrion crows, Red kites have also been recorded on several days lately at Wintersett and Anglers CP.

Peregrines tread carefully.

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Peregrines are equipped with sharp talons and they can, occasionally, cause damage to an egg as they step into or out of the nest scrape. To reduce the chance of this happening, the birds move very carefully , particularly when settling down on the eggs. In addition, they instinctively curl their toes to put the talons out of harm’s way.

Egg care 1

Egg care 2

Wakefield peregrine bringing pied wagtail

Posted on April 5, 2016 by John Gardner

Spring migrants at Pugneys CP

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Eddie Andrassy

A few interesting birds at Pugneys this morning, with two common scoter on main lake , two white wagtails and willow warbler, blackcap and wheatear all arriving. .

Excitement at Altofts

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Pauline Brook

A lot of fuss in the sky attracted my attention and there were four lapwings mobbing a red kite! (And it was on the Wakefield side of the M62,- tho’ only just!).

I also heard skylark singing, saw a small tortoiseshell, a pair of yellowhammers and a substantial patch of butterbur . All this along the canal at Altofts this afternoon.

Sweep’s brushes at Ackworth School

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

A sure sign of spring is the flowering of field wood-rush (Luzula campestris), which is also known as sweep’s brushes. This species likes to grow in damp lawns, where it is usually inconspicuous but becomes more obvious when the dark flower heads appear in patches.

sweeps brushes (Luzula campestris) at Ackworth School

Wakefield Naturalists' Society | nature club Wakefield

Wakefield's oldest established nature club

Monthly Archives: April 2016