Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

Today I went looking for spring migrants at Raw Nook NR & TH Beck. I was a bit optimistic as it is usually around the 17th of March that the first migrant appears in our area…given a few days either way.

So it was no surprise that nothing as found. However, there were signs of spring as I witnessed a Mallard dispute.

A pair were at TH Beck when another male…well took a fancy to the female Mallard. He was chased off by the other male but I suspect he may try again!

Then at Caldene fields a returning Skylark briefly sang as it carried on it’s journey as it flew N.

There is a flock of at least 31 Siskin feeding in Alder trees around the small pond at Toad Holes Beck. Their numbers are increasing as I counted just 16 on the 21/1. Given the mild weather and a bit of sunshine this morning a number of males were in full song.

There must be a good crop of Alder seeds this year and this bounty may attract some Lesser Redpolls in the coming days and weeks.

A Tree Creeper and 2 Great spotted Woodpeckers were showing off this morning at Caldene fields. Also seen were 6 Stock Doves and thankfully the 3 Greenfinch are still about taking advantage of the local bird feeders…

Yesterday some may have noticed that workmen were strimming and cutting back shrubs around the bridge at Raw Nook NR which leads onto Toad Holes Beck. Well today I had a conversation with one of the workmen. He told me that the bridge is have it’s 3 year safety survey and that all looks well apart from a re-paint.

Talking of cutting back shrubs Peter Gurney and his team from the YWT will be coppicing the wooded area in the middle of the meadow.

So if anyone sees people with chainsaws in Raw Nook NR the shrubs and trees are not been cut down but merely coppiced.

The over-wintering Coots are still doing well at TH Beck with eleven on the large pond this morning. Also showing well at the site were a party of 5 Bullfinches.

Around this time of year I like to find as many species of birds in a single walk around my local patch, which is Raw Nook NR, Caldene fields and Toad Holes Beck.

As I have done this for a number of years it gives an indication of status of species that I know should be found in my local area at this time of the year.

The total is usually between 29-34 species. In years gone by species like the Tree Sparrow could be found but that species has long gone. And believe it or not the Collard Dove was an uncommon species here in the late seventies and now it is every where.

Well the total this year was 32 which is fairly good. Species that were hard to find were as expected the Greenfinch, Kestrel and Moorhen.

I am not too worried about the Moorhen even though I only found one single bird as there are 10 Coot at TH Beck over-wintering and they have probably forced the Moorhens away as they are the dominate species.

On the plus side the Stock Dove is doing very well with up to 6 birds present on a daily basis and the Coat tit appears to be easy to find with birds at CF,s and THB.

I didn’t search for the Tree creepers which is relatively new to our area and has probably bred. The reason for this is it would have disturbed the over-wintering Coots at THB.

Yesterday with snow covering our landscape it was an ideal day to look for the rare (in our area) Jack Snipe a winter visitor to the UK mainly from northern Europe. I have only two records of this wader as it stays hidden, hugging the damp earth, until you virtually tread on it!

Unfortunately I didn’t find one as I searched Raw Nook NR and Toad Holes Beck.

However, I did find two Common Snipe by the frozen pond at Raw Nook NR.

Both flew off towards Toad Holes Beck.

At the later site I found a pair of lovely Grey Wagtails (Opposite) so I wasn’t too disappointed.

Also at TH Beck was a flyover Cormorant which headed to the east.

The surprise was a Ring Necked Parakeet which was calling over Woodlands cricket club.

This bird could stay in our area during the winter. So keep at eye out at your garden feeders especially if you put out peanuts.

There were 9 Coot on the large pond and strangely only one Moorhen. I had a look on the middle pond for a possible winter Water Rail but with no luck but it is perhaps a bit early, they usually appear mid-winter.

Firstly I have to say what a wonderful sunrise it was this morning from the watch point. Although after sunrise it became very overcast with open skies to the east.

It was from this direction that small amounts of Redwings and continental Starling came in from and moved both to the S/W and N/W.

The real surprise though was my third Peregrine falcon on the autumn. The bird came in low from the S/E over Caldene fields and moved N/W giving very good views.

Also of interest was the first lapwings, (7 in total )of the autumn which moved to the S/W.

As we know Cormorants are increasing in inland areas and this year has been a bumper year for the species with an excellent 72 birds viewed from the watch point since early September to date. Last year I recorded over the same period just 43 birds.