Lunchtime stroll

At lunchtime, in the scorching sunshine, I ventured out beyond the campus, via Queens Wood and across the land adjoining West Park playing fields. On the way I saw Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Long Tail Tit, Jay, Robin, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Blue Tit, Wren. The view above is  from the top of the hill with the university sports pitches behind me, looking across to West Park. Its a nice open area of uncut grasses, cow parsley with occasional patches of buttercup and bluebells bordered by an assortment of native deciduous trees.

This is the view at the base of the hill, looking towards Spen Lane, West Park Centre is just visible far right, Norman Towers is visible between the trees, left of centre. The grassland is full of buttercups, dandelions and red clover pictured in more detail below. Strangely I spotted only one butterfly in this area today, a Small Tortoiseshell.

Here's the Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on a buttercup. I had a little more luck on the walk back spotting a Holly Blue, two male Orange Tip, and two whites on the wing at a distance. Its a nice patch and one I'll try to visit more regularly.

Speckled Wood in Queens Wood

At lunchtime I left the office for a woodland wander through Queens Wood which is on the doorstep of the university campus. Whilst enjoying the bluebell views I caught sight of what I thought was a bee amongst the foliage (at the centreof the shot), but turned out to be my first  Speckled Wood of the year, yay!

Here's the area where I spotted them, a recently cleared West facing sunny spot in the woodland, it did catch my eye as a good location for potential butterflies, I love it when that happens. 

The clearance work is part of the University's ongoing woodland management programme, extensive thinning  has been carried out to get rid of diseased and non natives with some replanting to encourage the growth of native species. Felled wood has been retained and in some cases the tops of trees have been removed but left standing for woodpeckers. I heard a couple of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Chiffchaff, and saw Wren, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tail Tit, Magpie, Crow, Robin, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon & Grey Squirrel.  

Beckett Park

Beckett Park fungi (2)

As mentioned in yesterday's post, Ive noticed a large number of fungi on Beckett Park this week. With so many pics I decided to make up a few composites featured here.

Dotted around the edges of this tree stump (used creatively by students as a barbecue area) are the fruitbodies of Giant Polypore and inside a small cluster of cup fungi.

From this point on and with so many examples Ive struggled to identify them, although I think bottom left and top right might be a Blusher.

I like the pic on the right in particular as I noticed the jogger heading into the frame as I knelt down to take the photo.

More views of the Blusher fungi posted previously.

Beckett Park fungi (1)

This week on my way to and from work Ive noticed an abundance of fungi on Beckett Park, growing on open grassland and under the canopies of Beech trees.

The area is predominantly grassland with a handful of Beech trees, South facing, on a steady incline and with a small underground spring nearby it can quickly become damp in patches. I'd guess the warmth and rain has provided ideal conditions for the fruitbodies to appear. Ive counted over 7 species so far so here are the first couple growing underneath a Common Beech. Would I be correct in assuming that they're all Blusher fungi , Amanita rubescens?

This one is a more mature specimen.

St Chads lunchtime wander

Having seen little sunshine for the past few days I took the opportunity to meander down to St Chad's Churchyard at lunchtime. Having reviewed my pics it appears the wander was made up from a palette of greens and golds. Speckled Wood's greeted me at the entrance to the churchyard, three of them taking turns to challenge each other for prime position on sun splashed nettle and bramble leaves.



On the return walk these tall flowering grasses caught my eye.

St Chads

A few sightings from today's lunchtime wander to St Chad's Churchyard, Headingley. A handful of Speckled Wood butterflies favour a patch of sun soaked brambles and nettles located at the entrance to the churchyard making for regular sightings.





In the churchyard itself I noticed this little moth, although not the sharpest of shots I was glad to come away with a couple of pics for ID purposes. At first I thought it might be a Small Yellow Underwing (Panemeria tenebrata) but it looks suspiciously like the moth that Dean recently posted on DDD which is a Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata). If anybody can help it'd be most appreciated.

And from the spring/summer range, Buttercup with feather boa, floral chic darling, it'll be all the rage in Primarni before you know it.

I also enjoyed an unexpected lunchtime sighting of an adult fox on the border of the churchyard that backs onto neighbouring gardens. My immediate reaction was that somebody had let their dog loose to wander around a working area of the churchyard, so I tutted and rolled my eyes, only to realise that it wasn't a dog at all and with that realisation came the disappearance of the fox, not something I was expecting to see but all the more reason for a regular visits.

Friday wander around St Chad's

Today's lunchtime wander to St Chad's churchyard was accompanied by a chillsome wind and the occasional burst of sunshine. On the way, on campus two Mistle Thrush collected food from the ground under the emerging canopies of beech and cherry. The pair are presumably nesting nearby as they're are a familiar sight, boldly holding their own against the local Jackdaws.

In the churchyard a Song Thrush surveyed the grounds from above. (At least I think this ones a Song Thrush, it appeared smaller and rounder).

After a couple of lazy circuits of the churchyard I decided it was probably too breezy for butterflies, and smiled to myself as almost immediately I spotted a Peacock butterfly on the ground no more than half a metre away. Other than an occasional adjustment, angling itself to make the most of the sun, and a brief moment on the wing it remained there for the rest of my stay. I imagine the surrounding vegetation provided welcome shelter from the breeze.

On the way home I couldn't resist a pic of a nearby Lilac bush coming into blossom.

St Chad's Churchyard Friday Wander

On a lunchtime stroll to St Chad's churchyard I was rewarded with clearer views of one of the pair of Jay that I glimpsed briefly last week, what a lovely bird it is.

Here's my first decent shot of a Speckled Wood that greeted me as I entered the churchyard and later settled nearby amongst paper thin golden leaves. The Speckled Wood was my most familiar butterfly last year, it prefers the dappled shade of hedgerows and woodland margins, I welcome its return and look forward to many more happy encounters.

Three Blue Tits fed on emerging pinnate leaves (Rowan or Ash perhaps), the spire of St Chad's Church can be seen in the background of the first pic. Note to self: must identify this tree on my next visit.

Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense, growing by a gravestone, Phil Gates (Cabinet of Curiosities) recently blogged about Equisetum telmateia, and as usual its well worth a read.

Beckett Park woodland sightings

Yesterday, during a lunchtime wander through Beckett Park woodland I spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Great Tit, Jay, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. Around campus I caught sight of another Nuthatch on a Beech tree adorned with emerging buds and still bearing last years fruit.

The most exciting sighting of the day was a Comma on the wing, it made off too quickly for me to get a pic, so Ive included a photo of a Comma feeding on a Verbena that I took up at Goldenacre Park last October. It appeared in a boggy area of woodland which apparently is a preferred habitat for the species. The Yorkshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation has a recent sightings page and I noticed that a Brimstone and Peacock were also seen in Headingley yesterday afternoon. With good weather on the way this weekend perhaps we can look forward to more appearances, fingers crossed.

Beckett Park Woodland Birds

This week's crisp and clear mornings have filled Beckett Park woodland margins with sparkling dew drops and golden beech leaf colour. Pausing for a moment I spotted this Long Tailed Tit flitting from branch to branch and a Treecreeper feasting from the fissured bark of an established Oak. The splashes of light and colour made for some interesting abstract surroundings.

Kirkstall and Headingley sightings

More snow fell last night following yesterday's icy conditions which made this morning's walk into work somewhat crispy underfoot. Throughout the week Redwing have been a familiar sight in the woodland around Beckett Park and the hedgerow adjacent to the railway line.

The rose bushes outside of James Graham building are dotted with rosehips that stand out against the snow covered thorned stems.

On the walk in to work I notice that the bare trees appear silhouetted against the grey-white sky, almost devoid of colour and certainly worth a second glance.

Beckett Park

Well the snow's still lying in Kirkstall & Headingley. Walking through Beckett Park at lunchtime I noticed a solitary Lapwing fly over the Park & land briefly. Blackbird x 6, Robin x 4, Greenfinch x 3, Chaffinch x 2, Pied Wagtail x 1, Goldfinch x 3.

Winter wonderland

Fallen leaves on snow, Beckett Park, Headingley.