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Ripley Castle Grounds and Gardens. 21st March 2023.

Submitted by Amanda on Thu, 23rd Mar 2023, 10:11am

Ripley Castle Grounds and Gardens was the last BEES’ outing before Covid restrictions began. Today, eleven members enjoyed a return visit.

With pick up points met, Julia chose the minor roads so affording opportunity to see life returning to the countryside and, as we have come to expect, the first red kite of the day. Parking in the Castle carpark near the Cedar of Lebanon with its impressive display of cones was a good botanical start to the day. The takeaway café barred the way to the grounds so early decisions were necessary. Some chose hot drinks, others icecream while some resisted temptation.

Sally, as leader, proposed following the circular walk centred on, yet at most parts distant from, the lake. As interests were followed the group splintered then reformed. Others chose the lakeside path.

WFV, Nosterfield LNR & West Tanfield Riverbank, 7th March 2023

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 8th Mar 2023, 4:49pm

The day began cold & crisp with a lovely blue sky & luckily for the nine of us stayed like that.  Clouds did begin bubbling up as we were leaving & some of them formed most interesting shapes.

A Red Kite flew very close to the mini bus on our outward journey so we all had great views of that.

WFV Old Moor RSPB Reserve, 21st February 2023

Submitted by Sue Z on Sun, 26th Feb 2023, 1:31pm

Colds had forced two people to stay home, leaving seven minibus travellers to rendezvous at Old Moor RSPB reserve with Stuart and Gillian and a newly acquired friend from their recent travels. 

After a briefing from Julia we had an update from Shaun, a volunteer at the reserve, about potential sightings before we started out on the Green Lane route with only a brief stop at the feeders as volunteer activity nearby meant little chance of bird activity. The Green Lane is a loop with five hides, many of which have been revamped and a lot of vegetation has been cleared to provide better viewing opportunities and there was indeed plenty to see. 

WFV, Saltaire Canal and River, 7 Feb 2023

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Tue, 7th Feb 2023, 6:49pm

Today was our delayed ‘New Year’s Walk’, and it was great that 12 of us gathered for what would be better described as a wander than a walk. We adopted a casual pace along the tow path, taking time to check out the trees, plants and birds as we progressed, as well as catching up with each other’s news. 

The stretch between Saltaire and Hirst Lock was fairly quiet; a few Mallards, Greylag Geese, and a Wren. Alice started to note a few plants in flower. It’s the beginning of February so we wouldn’t expect to see much, but the list included Common Chickweed, Groundsel, Shepherd’s Purse, Field Speedwell, Snowdrop and Hazel. 

Beyond the lock we had a view into Hirst Wood and down to the river. We saw male and female Goosanders and a Cormorant flew past. John spotted a woodpecker, and we also saw one fly overhead.  

WFV, Potteric Carr, 17th January 2023

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Sat, 21st Jan 2023, 7:29pm

It was a bright, clear, very cold day when we went to Potteric Carr, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve just south of Doncaster. Nestled in the elbow of the M18 and the A6182 and skirted to the north by the North East Coast railway line the reserve shows little sign of the site's industrial past as a railway spaghetti junction, apart from the working railway line passing through it and the Post Office depot at the north west corner. I'd not been here before but now, looking at the map, realise I have seen it countless times from the train and will look out with keener interest when leaving Doncaster station in future.

We set off from the Visitor Centre along the Dragonfly Trail, heading for the Wetland Walk. Beside the path was a hazel tree with huge, luminous yellow-green catkins and the tiny, magenta, spidery female hazel flowers, just gorgeous. 

WFV, ST Aidan's RSPB, 29th Nov 2022

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 30th Nov 2022, 6:32pm

What did we see at St Aidan’s today? Well, as we set off from the visitor centre to explore the route around the reedbeds, we weren’t particularly hopeful of seeing anything. The thick fog had no intention of lifting and was going to challenge our views, as well as the comfort of our fingers. 

All was quiet as we walked down to the lower areas of the reserve, the Canada Geese gathered high on the pasture giving us our first view of birds. The next on the list was a small flock of Moorhens busily feeding on the wet grassland. We watched male and female Stonechats perching on the fence posts, and saw the rest of the flock as they took flight when the geese were spooked and took to the air, creating quite a noise. There were thrushes in the hedge rows. We positively identified Fieldfare, but couldn’t be sure if there were Redwing amongst them.  

WFV, York Gate Gardens, Adel, Friday 18th Nov 2022

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Sun, 20th Nov 2022, 12:08pm

You are probably thinking the above date is incorrect as it is not a Tuesday!  The visit was intended to be on the 15th but it had to be rearranged at short notice due to the awful weather forecast for that day and the forecasters were not wrong. The next two days were also very poor as was the Saturday so we were fortunate to have one dry day that week.

Our group of four were well looked after by Jack Ogg and his gardening team. An invitation to take refreshments in their office was not of course turned down.  After discussions with the team about the gardens and the maintenance regime we proceeded to look for fungi in the meadow which lies below the large car park.  We were joined by Amy, one of the trainees & by Jack himself.

Tuesday 1st November Thorp Perrow Arboretum

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Thu, 3rd Nov 2022, 2:55pm

We enjoyed our second outing in the minibus following the recent Covid restrictions this Tuesday. Twelve participants (including Carol a friend of Margaret) met up with Stuart around 11am at the arboretum. We enjoyed a leisurely day out exploring the grounds of this 100-acre arboretum developed since 1895 by the Ropner family. Also enjoying the beauty and vibrant colours of the trees, shrubs and fungi in autumn. Please view their beauty in the Gallery. 

The ground was covered with a carpet of golden red and yellow leaves many having fallen within the last week which was a wet one. The wet conditions had produced a variety of fungi of interest to John. Species seen included honey fungus, clouded funnel, tawney funnel, wrinkled club, yellow club, false chanterelle, scarlet waxcap, slimy waxcap, shaggy parasol, possibly white dome caps and candle snuff. 

WFV, CROMWELL BOTTOM, 18th October 2022

Submitted by Amanda on Thu, 20th Oct 2022, 5:34pm

Five members met on a mild sunny morning at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve sited to the west of Brighouse and between the Calder and Hebble Navigation and the River Calder. Originally a quarry, a tip for ash from Elland power station and a landfill site, it is now a large, attractive reserve with woodland, wetlands and grassland habitats.

WFV, Blacktoft Sands RSPB, 4th Oct 2022

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Wed, 5th Oct 2022, 3:36pm

This day last year we took the train and were braving the wild north-westerlies on Morecambe Bay. Today was quite different, we were back in the minibus for the first time in two and a half years, and we enjoyed a pleasant autumn day, overcast but warm.  

Blacktoft Sands lies along the Ouse, and consists of a string of hides with flat easy paths connecting them. The first comments we made as we headed along the hedgerow to the Ousefleet hide, was the abundance and size of the haws on the Hawthorn. A feast in waiting.