WFV, Stoneycliffe Wood, 20th April 2010

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 21st Apr 2010, 8:38am

Wood Sorrel LeavesWood Sorrel LeavesNine people travelled on the minibus, meeting up with 4 others for today's trip to Stoneycliffe Wood which was led by Peter. Stuart and Gillian were unable to come due to volcanic activity in Iceland - I thought they were in the States! :)

Stoneycliffe Wood is in Netherton near Wakefield and is owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Our start point was close to Netherton cemetery. Although there was a brisk, bracing breeze, the sun shone on us virtually all day and once we were in the woods, we were afforded some protection from the wind. Our route took us through woodland, mostly on paths that ran alongside a stream. Unfortunately only a handful of bluebells were in flower, but there were large swathes of golden saxifrage by the stream, that almost seemed to glow. There were plenty of wood anenomes and a little wood sorrel was in flower.There was a profusion of wild garlic,not quite in flower, but very aromatic. We sat on some felled trees to eat our lunch, before continuing our 4 mile walk which took us beyond Stoneycliffe Wood to Coxley Wood, before we turned back. Flowering plants and ferns numbered 28. The bird count was 23, and included long-tailed tit, nuthatch and greater spotted woodpecker. The birding highlight was being serenaded by a blackcap. Two butterflies were seen - the comma and the orange tip. At the end of the walk people dispersed, but those on the minibus headed for Charlotte's ice cream parlour near Huddersfield. There was a choice of about 30 different flavours of ice cream including apple crumble! A lovely way to round off  a beautiful day.

Sue 

 

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