Monthly Archives: May 2012

A big pat on the back for all seventeen of us who braved a rather cold and damp morning to litterpick, clear saplings from the moor, and do some incidental work on paths.

Together we can!

Steve Joul led a S.W.A.T team of five dedicated ecologists in carrying out a survey of flora and fauna in Adel Woods.  Pictured here with three of the team, Steve is going to collate the results and share them with FOAW.

Despite recent torrential downpours, the heavens were kind and did not open upon our intrepid team – in fact it was a lovely day and everyone was chuffed with the outcome of their endeavours.

These are Steve Joul’s notes of our observations.

Newts

4 x Palmate Newts, 2 male, 2 female plus one newt tadpole caught in Mill Fall Pond, Adel Woods, using 12 funnel traps, set 2m apart.

Birds

Blackbird:              Several males singing

Blackcap:               Male singing in woodland edge

Bullfinch:                Male flew from feeder in garden

Carrion Crow:        Pair, one of which landed to take feed

Chaffinch:               Male singing in woodland

Chiffchaff:               Several males and a pair together

Coat Tit:                   Male singing

Domestic Pigeon:   Flock flew over

Dunnock:                 Male singing

Goldcrest;                Male singing in Scots Pine

Great Spotted Woodpecker:  Female flew from feeder in garden

Great Tit:                  Several males singing

Green Woodpecker:   Calling (could be male or female)

Jackdaw:                  Pair flew over

Jay:                           Single in woodland

Kestrel:                     Single flew over

Longtailed Tit:         Single flew over

Magpie:                    Several

Nuthatch:                 Two males heard calling

Robin                        Several males singing

Song Thrush:           Male singing, another bird in woodland

Starling:                    Several flew over

Stock Dove:

Tree Sparrow:           Pair nesting in tv nestbox in garden

Treecreeper:              Single

Whitethroat:              Single, not singing

Willow Warbler:        Two males singing at Adel Moor

Wood Pigeon:           Numerous

Wren:                        Numerous (many males singing)

Steve Joul led twenty seven of us on our third annual bird song walk round Adel Woods.

Before we began, the birdspotters made voluntary contributions totalling £44.80 to FOAW funds.

One of the highlights was to see that Louise’s birdbox by the slabbering baby was occupied by great tits which were clearly feeding young. [NB after the walk Barbara noticed that the next birdbox – by the bridge on the way to the pond – was occupied by a pair of nuthatches.]   See the next entry for Steve’s notes on the species we observed.

A bleary eyed but excited crowd of conservationists gathered at Adel Pond this morning, for the unveiling of the results of last night’s newt survey. There was disappointment as the first two traps, opened by Steve Joul, senior ranger with Leeds City Council, were found to be empty.  However, the mood soon turned to jubilation when the third trap, set by Josh, aged 14 from Leeds, was found to contain an adult palmate newt. The remaining traps contained three more adult palmate newts – two male and two female – and a youngster from last year – still sporting gills.

Your correspondent who is “embedded” with the Friends of Adel Woods had placed one of the traps at the edge of the pond, but to general amusement it proved on inspection to be empty save for a lone leech.

On completion of the survey, Mr Joul addressed the expectant throng on the life cycle of newts before leading them on a “whistle stop” bird song tour of Adel Woods.

Later we will be speaking to our economics editor, Stephanie Flanders, on the implications of the results of today’s survey on the Euro-crisis.

This evening Steve Joul showed a happy band how to make newt traps from old coke bottles and a cane and we then trooped down to the pond where we set the traps round the pond in clock face fashion (one at each point of the clock face).  We then hunted for newts with torches and found some.  We are optimistic for the results of our endeavours in the morning.

“‘Aven’t you got a gnome to go to?”

Your correspondent’s first inspection of the bog for nearly six months and it was an amazing sight.  Admittedly we have just had the wettest April since records began, but a large part of the bog was very boggy – under standing water.

The Sphinx of Adel Crag: photo by Tom Swire

We had a good turn out for our AGM at Alwoodley Community Association and celebrated afterwards with convivial chat over a drink or two.

Roger Gilbert was appointed Chair for another year;  Stephanie agreed to be secretary and Judith treasurer.  David agreed to be auditor again.

Sadly, Sarah, Tom and Tina felt unable to continue on the committee (though they will still be taking part in events). They have all contributed hugely to the work of FOAW and a big thank you to them all.  Tom is a keen photographer and took the picture at the head of this entry.

Fortunately, some excellent people agreed to step up to the plate.

The new committee is (in no particular order):  Roger, Stephanie, Judith, David, Rob, Beth, Phil, Wyn, Brian and Andrew.