Wednesday 30 April 2014

Bird Race at St Ives, Bingley - Sunday 11th May, 10:30am

Thank you to the Otters who braved the wet weather forecast and joined us on our annual bird race.

The low turnout didn't dampen our enthusiasm - and neither did the weather in the end, which stayed dry if a little windy.

The winning team, lead by Nick and Joost, amassed a total of 33 bird species in a one-hour walk around the estate. This beat Cameron's team by four, in what were difficult conditions. Both teams started at the bird hide near Coppice Pond, and took a circular route around the estate, going in opposite directions.

The Airedale Otters Bird Race Cup winners 2014

The full list of species seen or heard, in the order spotted, is:
1. Mallard
2. Canada Goose
3. Magpie
4. Greylag Goose
5. Moorhen
6. Coot
7. Blackbird
8. Wren
9. Willow Warbler
10. Blue Tit
11. Nuthatch
12. Great Tit
13. Starling
14. Goldfinch
15. Mistle Thrush
16. Robin
17. Wood Pigeon
18. Blackcap
19. Dunnock
20.Swallow
21. Jackdaw
22. Pied Wagtail
23. Chaffinch
24. Carrion Crow
25. Kestrel
26. Pheasant
27. Little Owl
28. Curlew
29. Swift
30. Common Whitethroat
31. Skylark
32. Chiffchaff
33. Coal Tit

Friday 18 April 2014

Spring Wildlife Walk, Hirst Wood, Saltaire - Sunday 13th April 2014

Thank you too all the enthusiastic Otters and their families who joined us on our Spring Wildlife Walk on Sunday 13th April.

We met at Hirst Wood car park in the sunshine, and watched Long-tailed, Great and Blue Tits as we waited for everyone to arrive. The weather was just about perfect for a spring walk, though the strong breeze made viewing birds high up in the trees a bit harder.

Wildlife Explorers!

No sooner had we entered the wood and we were hearing Nuthatches calling. It wasn't long before we saw one, the first of four we saw. These loud "mini woodpeckers" are very handsome birds, with blue-grey backs, orange bellies, and a cool stripe through the eye. They get their name through their habit of cracking open nuts with their dagger-like bills.

Watching a Nuthatch

We were trying to find birds not just by looking for them, but also by listening for their songs. We heard a lot of Blue Tits, Wrens, Blackbirds and Robins in the wood, but before long we heard a sweet, rich warble coming from over our heads. It was a male Blackcap. Blackcaps are summer migrants from warmer parts of Europe and Africa, but more recently some Blackcaps have been spending the winter in Britain. So the bird we saw in the wood may have flown just flown in from Africa, or spent all winter in our gardens.

We moved on, with the Otters finding noisy Jays and Mistle Thrushes. We stopped at the aqueduct end of the wood, to listen for birds. It was a bit windy here, but we were lucky to spot a pair a Stock Doves at what was probably their nest site in a nearby tree. Stock Doves look similar to Wood Pigeons, but are more closely related to the feral pigeons you see in towns are cities. Stock Doves live in fields in small flocks, and pair up in spring to build nests in holes in trees. They are often overlooked, and are possibly the prettiest pigeon or dove we have in the UK.

Stock Dove

We continued to the aqueduct, which led us to Dowley Gap Water Treatment Plant. We could see the Swallows and Sand Martins flying over the works from a distance - the first Swallows we'd all seen since last summer. They had been in southern Africa over the winter, and it was great to see them back. Sites like sewage works attract birds that feed exclusively on insects, and so are great for birds like Swallows, Sand Martins, Pied and Grey Wagtails, Wrens, Chiffchaffs, etc.

Over the canal and on to the river heading back and the Otters found a group of Mallard ducklings! There were eight ducklings in one family group. Most birds are still building nests or sat on eggs, but these Mallards had started early. The ducklings looked like they'd been out of the nest for around week already.

 Finding the Mallard ducklings

Along the river we heard singing Chiffchaffs in the trees - calling their name "chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff". The river bank was coated in early flowers like Celandine, Bluebell, and Wood Anemone, and the scent of Wild Garlic.

 Bluebells

Wild Garlic and Celandine

We also saw an early Orange Tip butterfly. It was a male, which has orange wing tips - females are all-white. A large shoal of small, or young, fish were swimming in the shallows. Unfortunately, none of us what these were. A definite gap in Airedale Otter knowledge! Perhaps something to do in a future event or quiz...

Orange Tip butterfly

At the weir we were greeted by a Grey Wagtail and soon found a pair or Dippers catching insects in the river. We watched as they flew out from the bank and plopped into the river, disappearing under water! Dippers can walk under water, gripping onto stones with their feet and catching the insect larvae. The Dippers were carrying the food back up the stream - as sure sign they have hungry young birds in the nest.

A great walk - thanks again for taking part.

Wednesday 2 April 2014

Building a Dead Hedge in Cullingworth - Sunday 23rd March

Thank you to everyone who came and helped us build the dead hedge at The Dell Woodland in Cullingworth on Sunday 23rd March. The weather was perfect: sunny, dry, and still.


It was great to be getting involved in some practical conservation work, helping to give nature a home in a local community woodland. A dead hedge is made up of cut branches and stems piled up to form a barrier.

Getting started

First we placed strong stakes in the ground, like fence posts. Then we gathered branches, sticks and twigs and weaved these between the posts, making the structure stronger.


Everyone pitched in

The dead hedge soon started to take shape

A dead hedge is like a special den for all sorts of creatures. It will become home to a wide range of invertebrates (bugs and mini beasts), amphibians (frogs and toads) and small mammals (such as mice and voles). It will also help improve conditions for birds, providing a good perching spot for smaller birds.



We made good progress

As well as providing a great habitat for the wildlife, our dead hedge will be an important barrier between the woodland and the houses that back on to it and look much more natural than an ordinary fence. Over time, material in the dead hedge will slowly rot down returning important nutrients to the soil and new cuttings and branches can be added to it.


The finished dead hedge looked great

The finished dead hedge looks brilliant. Well done everyone! You earned the hot chocolate and biscuits! We had some great views of a Grey Wagtail, which was buzzing around the stream in the wood, calling loudly. This noisy cockerel was also calling loudly!