Home

Smart! and Butterfly survey…

Our conservation group has been going for many years but finally we now have some smart tabards with the groups name on. So if you see us about stop and have a chat or join the group!

During this hot sunny weather I thought the 30/6 would be a good day to do a butterfly count survey in our recording area.

Nine species were found with the absence of the Speckled Wood

Over the sites Caldene fields, Raw Nook LNR and Toad Holes Beck the combined numbers were:

Ringlet+ 95. Meadow Brown =83. Small White =37. Small skipper =21. Large white =21. Small Tortoiseshell. =5. Comma = 2. Gatekeeper=2. Large Skipper=1.

Also noted was my fifth record of a Cream-Spot Ladybird at Raw Nook with a 7 Spot to it’s right in photo.

warbler26 homepage, insects No Comments

Moth trapping session at Raw Nook LNR

On Friday night myself and my son-in law conducted a moth trapping and sweeping with a net session at Raw Nook LNR for about 2 hours.

24 species were record which is low but this was due to only a 2 hour session due to the rain. However, 9 new species were added to the Raw Nook LNR moth species list which is brilliant news. This list now stands at 179.

A new beetle for Raw Nook LNR was also found (attracted by the light). The beetle was a Colymbetes fuscus, a large water diving beetle and was found well away from the pond!

warbler26 homepage, insects 2 Comments

Red Letter Day!

Yesterday was a Red Letter day for me and our recording area. Ever since I received the report of 2 small Roe Deer in our area I have been on the lookout.

Well I was up early and saw a pair of Roe Deer by the pond. I managed to get a couple of photos before they gradually moved off.

Then I opened the moth trap and not found two new moth species for our recording area the best was this stunning Blood-vein

Blood-vein (opposite)

I then decided to check Raw Nook LNR to see if there was anything interesting about. I went to check the footpath at the top of the site to look for the Ashy mining bees.

Whilst I was looking I noticed a number of very tiny bees or wasps flying low over the ground.

I then observed that some of these insects were actually coming out of tiny nest holes in the ground.

Having done some research they may well be lindenius albilabris a tiny solitary wasp.

I have sent my information and photos to IRecords so an expert can have a look. This species is not uncommon but if confirmed it will be an excellent breeding record for the site.

warbler26 homepage, insects No Comments

Roe deer fawns and an Elephant!

Received a really interesting sighting from a reliable dog walker on 30/5/25. She had been walking on the public footpath early in the morning when the dog disturbed two Roe deer fawns.

They both ran off towards Raw nook LNR. Confident the Roe deer does not breed in our recording area but there is a possible a small herd in the Oakenshaw/East Bierley area. So they maybe from that herd.

Oh and the Elephant….A stunning freshly emerged Elephant Hawk moth this moth at Caldene fields

warbler26 Butterflies/Moths, homepage, mammals 2 Comments

Sedge Warbler tries again!

A male Sedge Warbler is again trying to attract a mate at Toad Holes Beck. I found one in full song on the 6/5 singing from cover at the middle pond.

Like it’s cousin the Reed Warbler which I have never recorded in our area, the Sedge also ‘Can’ have mimicry in it’s song. And whilst their is no mimicry in the clip below I heard a snippet of the Goldfinch song from the Sedge.

Sadly I fear that there is possibly too much disturbance at the small pond for the species to breed but Never say Never!!

warbler26 Birds, homepage No Comments

Oakenshaw Walkers enjoy their trip to Raw Nook LNR

Yesterday I took the Oakenshaw Walkers group on a nature walk round Raw Nook LNR.

It was a lovely spring day and the birds were in full song.

We listened to the songs of the migrant Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers which all breed on site.

I managed to find a Greenshield Bug on an exposed leaf as a male Orange Tip butterfly gave some great views.

So all in all everyone seemed to not only enjoy the walk but experience the bio-diversity of our urban wildlife jewel at Raw Nook LNR.

warbler26 Areas of Conservation, homepage No Comments

Sightings updates!

Firstly I counted at least 6 Green-veined white butterflies( opposite) this morning at Toad Holes Beck which is great news as last year there were hardly any sightings.

Also at the site on the 23rd was a passage Common Whitethroat.

A trip today to Low Moor Banks (Dealburn Rd) revealed a further single male Common Whitethroat in song and some good news was a Lesser Whitethroat in song from suitable nesting habitat.

Also at the site was a stunning low flying Red Kite (a site first) which was been harassed by a Carrion Crow.

warbler26 Birds, Butterflies/Moths, homepage No Comments

It Worked!

We remember with affection when Yorkshire Wildlife Trust worked with our conservation group in managing the bio-diversity in our nature areas in Low Moor & Oakenshaw.

I also remember when Peter Gurney from the trust stated ” Shall we erect some Bat and Bird boxes on site? ”

Brilliant was my reply…

Well one of the boxes was for Stock Doves. Thankfully we have about 8 of the species that feed at Caldene fields.

I have kept an eye on this nesting box over the years with no sign of the doves nesting.

Well that was until today! The bird at this stage may be investigating the box but I’m hoping that a pair breeds which will be great news for our area!

warbler26 Birds, homepage No Comments

A new common plant found at TH Beck

Whilst walking in Toad Holes Beck the other day I noticed by the fisherman’s pond a different looking species of Dock.

I examined it closely and it was a Water Dock – Rumex hydrolapathum which surprisingly has never been recorded before.

There were about 5 plants in the area so it seems to be doing well in the damp soil by the waters edge.

I then went to look for any early Bee activity during the sunny weather on the path at the top end of Raw Nook LNR.

I saw a mining bee coming out of a nest hole in the ground and assumed that it was a Lathbury’s nomad bee which breeds in the area and I even put down in my records as that species.

However, I was wrong it was a Tawny mining bee!

However, it is still a good record as I can strongly suggest that the species is breeding at that location which is good for the reserve.

warbler26 Links, Plant Species No Comments

Frog Spawn concerns and sightings…

As of yesterday there is still no frog spawn in my garden pond or at at Raw Nook LNR, which is concerning. There is still a very slim chance but it’s not looking good. There is a Grey Heron that visits the pond at Raw Nook LNR on a daily basis which may have affected the frog population at this location.

On a better note the Primroses at Toad Holes Beck at possibly at their best now so worth a visit…

There is at least 4 male Chiffchaffs in our area at the moment and just outside at East Bierley on the 28/3 a stunning Red Kite was patrolling the top of Cliff Hollings Rd

Spring butterflies are starting to show with a lovely male Brimstone at Caldene fields on 20/3

warbler26 homepage 2 Comments
error: Content is protected !!