Saturday, April 24, 2010

Site faithfull Little Owl

On a Halifax Scientific Society Ramble today one was on a wall at Rishworth, SE 03811846, in the same place as exactly a year ago (one day difference.) With thanks to Bruce for bringing the GPS device.

Total bird spp this year 27 as opposed to 23 in 2009.

Ripponden river bank to Turner Clough, up to Heys Lane (where owl was) then back along the contour and down to Ripponden.

Today's birds:

Migrant songbirds. Willow Warbler 2, Chiff-chaff 2, Blackcap 1.

Woodland. Blue, Great, Coal (building nest) and Long-tailed Tits. Jay, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Robin.

Waterside. Dipper, Heron (3 nests, at least 2 occupied), Mallard, Mandarin, Grey Wagtail.

Field and Hedgerow. Little Owl, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Pheasant.

The notable plant in this area is native daffodil, flowering well in its usual wood, but far more garden varieties seen planted out in the wild by people!

Butterflies seen were Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White, Orange Tip.

2 comments:

ChrisJB said...

I wasn't aware we had wild daffs in the South Pennines. Is the site in the public domain? I wouldn't mind seeing them.

Thanks, Chris

Steve Blacksmith said...

I will check with my Halifax Scientific Society colleagues.
(Best to keep band int nick.)
My email is steve.blacksmith@btinternet.com if you want to send me your contact details, Chris.
I have seen just 6-7 blooms at one other site, not found in recent years, and not seen them at top of Jumble Hole (Hippins Clough) where they are recorded. Some records are incorrect. (The ones at Bankhouse Wood, Salterhebble, are two garden varieties, though long established and possibly spreading.)