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Excitement from Low Moor Banks

I recently went to Low Moor Banks to do some survey work.

The main work was to count butterfly/moth species as well as trying to find new species for the site.

It was whilst I was using a sweep net in the grassland that I found this instar (young) Long-winged or Short -winged Conehead which belongs the the Cricket family.

This is an exciting find for the site as it appears the species is breeding at the site. Because it is very difficult to separate the young Short and Long Coneheads I will submit the record to IRecord for clarification.

Eleven species of Butterfly were recorded with the Gatekeeper been most abundant. Two male Common Blue were observed feeding.

Ladybirds are having a good year with the sunny weather with an excellent count of 33, 7 spots noted and a minimum count of 6, 14 spot ladybird also noted.

The Dittander opposite ( Which is probably an escape ) is flourishing and expanding near the entrance to the site from Dealburn Road


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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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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!!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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