Monthly Archives: April 2017

Early purple orchid at Brockadale

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Colin Booker

The early purple orchids were in full bloom at Brockadale today, in the woods as well as the meadows. I also had a raven fly over.

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Butterflies at Engine Wood, Nostell Priory

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Roger Gaynor

On the edge of a large nettle bed close to Engine Wood I watched a male small tortoiseshell butterfly establish a courtship territory. It was basking in the morning sunshine and suddenly taking flight high into the sky to investigate … Continue reading →

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Sunshine and showers at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Roger Gaynor

Today, braving the cold wintery showers with occasional sunshine, a walk around the lakes and woodland at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park was rewarded with some wonderful wildlife sightings, including two stoats at first oblivious to my presence whilst chasing each … Continue reading →

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Alder Leaf Beetle at Fitzwilliam

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

I was walking around Fitzwilliam Country Park this afternoon when I spotted lots of metallic black/blue beetles on the leaves of an alder. I think the alder is Italian alder (Alnus cordata). I believe that the beetles are Alder Leaf … Continue reading →

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Spring Moth-Trapping

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

The weather has been a bit cool but I have put out the moth trap on a couple of nights this week. There was a threat of some overnight drizzle, so I used my usual arrangement of a tripod and … Continue reading →

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Wormstall Woods, Ledsham – Wildflower walk

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Sue Gaynor

A chill wind caught us as we walked up the sloping track brightened by dog’s-mercury, cuckoo pint, white dead-nettle and a clump of hairy violet. We stopped to admire clumps of goldilocks buttercups amongst the celandine, up in the woodland … Continue reading →

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A walk to Newmillerdam

Posted on April 17, 2017 by heather

We had a walk from our house in Ryhill to Newmillerdam in the superb spring sunshine going via Haw Park and the Walton Canal. Grass snakes have been seen regularly along the canal of late but we weren’t lucky enough … Continue reading →

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Peregrine Update

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

This year’s clutch was completed with the laying of a fourth egg just after 3 a.m. on 1st April. The birds have, therefore, been incubating for a little over two weeks and they are well into their usual routine. The … Continue reading →

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Morels at Stanley

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

It’s the time of year for morel mushrooms to appear but they can be hard to find. They are significantly less common in the north-east of England than in some southern counties and they are more numerous in some years than … Continue reading →

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Spring Sightings

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

During a walk at Howell Wood, South Kirby, I found masses of opposite-leaved golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) in flower along the banks of a stream. This is an attractive and common plant but it isn’t as well known as some of … Continue reading →

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