Claire the chairperson for our group told me this morning that she had seen a strange caterpillar on the road at the Greenway at Oakenshaw last week and after she did some research the beautiful caterpillar turned out to be…
Survey work reveals some interesting finds…
I have recently been conducting survey work at Raw Nook nr concentrating mainly on insects i.e. moths, hoverflies and other general insect orders. I am trying to build up a more comprehensive species lists for the insects that breed and…
Sightings update…
On the 10th of August at Caldene fields there was a Southern hawker dragonfly patrolling the fields. Later in the day I visited Raw Nook nr and found another Southern Hawker (or possibly the same one as CFs) however, this…
Rare moth found at Raw Nook nr…
On Saturday 29th of July I was looking for any new day time moths to record at Raw Nook nr and Caldene fields. At the former site I was looking in the heather near to the pond on my hands…
Sightings update…
I found a juvenile female Common Redstart that appeared at Caldene fields on the 17/7/2017, the first sign of moving birds as the species does not breed locally. Three Poplar Hawkmoths and a single Peppered Moth were at Caldene fields…
Butterfly survey…
Yesterday as the sun shone I conducted a butterfly survey at Raw Nook Nr and Caldene Fields. A total of eight species were found which is relatively poor for mid summer. The butterflies I expected to record but didn’t were…
Second Blackneck found…
The wildlife site just off Dealburn road at Low Moor is proving to be a bit special. Although it is not part of my local patch (the 3 sites covered in this blog) I am recording and monitoring the fauna…
Conservation day and updates…
Yes it was a work day on Saturday for our group the Low Moor & Oakenshaw Conservation Group. The session in the main was to try and keep the Japanese Knot weed at Toad Holes Beck at bay as well…
Three new moth species…
A bit of good news in that yesterday I found two new moth species at Raw Nook Nr a Common Nettle-tap and a very handsome Nemophora degeerella. At Caldene Fields I found a Eucosma campolilana. This bring the total species…
Just like the old days…
Yes it was just like the old days this morning at Caldene Fields with a Skylark in full song for about an hour. Sadly as I expected it couldn’t find a mate and drifted south. Whereas, say twenty years ago…