Tag Archives: Wakefield wildlife

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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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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Wood Anemones at Brockadale

Posted on April 3, 2017 by John Gardner

I’ve just returned from a few days photography in Wiltshire/Dorset where I’ve been photographing firecrest, great bustard and Dartford warbler and, as the spring weather continued, today I went over to Brockadale to see what spring flowers were on offer. … Continue reading →

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Grass Snakes at Stanley Ferry

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Mark Archer

It’s still quite early in the year but three large grass snakes (Natrix natrix) were seen recently at Stanley Ferry Flash. These snakes must have emerged from hibernation recently. Grass snakes often live in marshy places or near lakes and … Continue reading →

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Additions to the Peregrine Prey List

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

We carried out a check of the tower yesterday, for the final time before the start of the breeding season. We found some of the usual remains, such as little grebe, teal, golden plover and snipe but we also found … Continue reading →

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Raven over Anglers Country Park

Posted on January 13, 2017 by John Gardner

Chris Swaine, a regular birder at Wintersett, just Tweeted this great image of a raven over Anglers Counrty Park. This is a very unusual bird for the area and Chris informs me that he also saw it just before Christmas … Continue reading →

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Otter at Ackworth

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

I’ve seen mink on the Went at Ackworth School in the past and I’ve recently spent some time trying to get trailcam video, without success. I was very pleased, therefore, to find out earlier today that some of the groundsmen … Continue reading →

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Black Redstart in Ossett

Posted on January 9, 2017 by John Gardner

John Hamilton Tweeted his sighting of a rare visitor to the district that he stumbled upon in Ossett – a black redstart! The bird has been seen in North Ossett churchyard and may have been around some time as there … Continue reading →

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Hedgehog Activity

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

We have seen hedgehogs in the garden recently and I thought it would be a good idea to provide a home for one. Some years ago, I made a hedgehog house using wood. It was a large box with a … Continue reading →

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Mating mallard at Nostell Priory

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Roger Gaynor

At the last indoor meeting Richard and Barbara mentioned they had recently watched the courting and mating behaviour of mallard ducks, including them bobbing  their heads up and down.  We wondered if this was normal for this time of year.  … Continue reading →

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