Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Various sites this afternoon

Dipper


Juvenile Peregrine

Adult male Kestrel

Autumn Crocus



4 comments:

Jeff Cox said...

The Dipper is a great shot Dave, and the Kestrel looks good too. I'm never lucky enough to get Kestrels that low down - usually at telegraph pole or tree top height for me.

Steve Blacksmith said...

There are about 33 sites we know of within Calderdale for the Autumn crocus. We are always keen to learn of new ones.
This one at Cold Edge is unique for its great elevation!
It has been known since the 19thC. A previously unknown site has turned up this week. If birders would report any that they see I can let them know if they are already recorded. Its always good to keep tabs on how they are all doing. They are almost certainly a relict of cultivation for saffron in the middle ages.

Nick Carter said...

Sorry to be ignorant but i assume this must be quite a rare plant then? Have we an especially good population here?

Steve Blacksmith said...

It is in small scattered colonies, though some can produce 100s of blooms. Older members of Halifax scientific Society remember fields full of it at Holmfield,now much reduced, but one site at Sowerby is said to be spreading.
I am bringing out a booklet about it soon.
The snag with recording it is that there are no leaves at this time of year and bad weather soon withers the flowers.
The ones near North Bridge Halifax are a similar looking but unrelated Colchicum, often planted under the erroneous name "Autumn Crocus".