Tuesday 30 September 2008

Vintage Grane Photos - Site of Stephens & Grane National School..



The first photo is of a "dedication service" being held at the original St. Stephens Church site shortly after the Church had been removed... and the second photo is of the Grane National School which was situated closeby at Crowtrees....click over photos to enlarge

Saturday 20 September 2008

Vintage Grane Photo - Phineas Fold, Holt Clough & St. Stephens etc.



This is a very old postcard of Grane and it shows St. Stephen's when it was in its original grounds at Crowtrees.



Phineas Fold is on the left next to trees, here also is Holt Clough Farm.. Behind the houses and on the skyline is Holt Clough Quarries...



There is not much left of any of these buildings which show on the postcard other than the Crowtrees dwelling....

(Click over photo to enlarge)

Thursday 18 September 2008

Hen Harrier over Priestentax.......


Had a short circular walk with Charlie Payne from Heap Clough via Crowtrees, Clough Head, Priestentax to Troy..... (1400hrs-1600hrs)

Birds: Goldfinch: 48 (a party of 18 near Crowtrees, and a party of 30 approx at back of Clough Head), also approx 15 Mistle Thrush at Crowtrees, Swallows: 14 (12 plus 2 - plus missing lots, everytime you seem to look up high, there they where going through South), Stonechat a family party of 4 at Crowtrees, Peregrine at Jamestone Quarry.. Raven calling from Deep Clough, Hen Harrier (ringtail), on side of Haslingden Moor above Priestentax, about 20 blogging Meadow Pipits at Crowtrees and some 10 bloggers near Priestentax.... Kestrel hovering on side of Haslingden Moor...

insects: Red Admiral B (1) at Clough Head, a Large White B near Deep Clough and a Wall Brown B at Troy Quarry...

flora: Common Duckweed (Jamestone), Bulrush (Jamestone) fungi: Unidentified at Deep Clough.

Found this beautiful little basket made out of rushes wedged in the wall near to Clough Head, a real piece of workmanship, I wonder who made it?........click here to see it.....

Wednesday 17 September 2008

Vintage Grane photo.......Original site of St Stephens at Crowtrees...



This old photograph on the left is of St Stephens Church when it was in its original site at Crowtrees, and the photo was taken the day before its removal to its present position.......







Tuesday 16 September 2008

Top O'th Knoll and below Bentley House....




Birds: Where a little thin on the ground but who could blame them.... when its raining cats and dogs...

Goldcrest a couple of parties heard.... and one lone Black Headed Gull on Calf Hey Reservoir....

Flora: Was in Top O'th Knoll planting looking around for fungi and anything else and came across this matted floor area, not sure but think it could be Wood Sorrell? which completely matted one area (click on photo and links) Here are another two links for the clover-leafed matted area flower (well no flowers but plenty of leaf..) Wood Sorrell? or Wood Sorrell?

also paid a visit to the two Sweet Chestnut trees we have at Calf Hey (the planting near Calf Hey House). Although the trees look pretty mature, the fruit never seems to get big enough........ Fungi: As yet unidentified: Fungi 2, Fungi 2a, Fungi 2b

Sunday 14 September 2008

30 minutes Vismig watching at Hutch Bank Quarry...

0900hrs - 0930hrs..
Birds: Swallow 4, House Martin 2, Siskin 14 (one party), Meadow Pipit: 10 (1W), Chaffinch 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Sparrowhawk 1 local, LBBG 4.... all South unless stated otherwise..

Thursday 11 September 2008

Palmate Newts at Jamestone Quarry & Calf Hey....


Charlie Payne had this Palmate Newt on Sunday last (7th Sept 2008) at Jamestone Quarry.... I also remember years ago having them at Calf Hey Reservoir in a small pool which runs alongside the regular pathway which runs around the reservoir on the Musbury Heights side.... Click over photo for supersize..
I hav'nt checked in recent years, they are probably still there...
Also closeby to this very point there used to be a large wooden gate which crossed the pathway and there was a sign that went across the top of this gate which read "Beware of the Adders".

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Troy Quarry.. Willow Warbler still calling.


1330hrs - 1530hrs..

Birds: Willow Warbler (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Raven (2) overhead and calling.

Insects: Wall Brown Butterfly (1), Red Damselfly, Cinnabar Caterpillars (approx 15) Click on photo.
Flora: Thyme-Leaved Speedwell.