This morning there is a feeding party of at least 14+ Lesser Redpoll feeding at the tops of tall Silver Birches near to the pond area giving excellent views as well as 2 Chiffchaffs and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Looking for spring migrants at Low Moor Banks
Spring migration is slowly getting underway despite the winds coming from the less favourable northerly quarter instead of a southerly airflow.
However, today I thought I would see what migrants were at Low Moor Bank ( old Low Moor tip opposite Dealburn Road, Low Moor) . When I arrived I could hear a distant Chiffchaff singing at the very top of the sight which was a good sign. I then found a further 3 singing males at various point around the site. Sadly I did not find or hear any Willow Warblers hopefully they are still on route. There were also two individual male Blackcaps in full song trying to attract passing females.
In total I found 18 different species ( including above ) and all records/numbers have been uploaded onto my Low Moor Banks database.
Redshank and Tree Creeper!
Received an email from Mark a birder from Wibsey who told me some exciting news. On the 2/4/ he was in Raw Nook NR when he saw a Tree Creeper in the wet woodland area before it gradually moved off towards the pond area. This is a good sighting as the TCs I have seen have all been in autumn and have probably been birds from Odsal woods where the species is resident.
Then on the 3/4/ at around 6pm he was again in Raw Nook NR when he disturbed a Redshank from the dried up pond which flew off and landed in Caldene fields then sadly out of sight.
This is the second known record of this (rare to south Bradford) passage wader to this pond and interestingly my last sighting in 1990 was also in March.
So whilst I knew I wouldn’t be able to see the passage Redshank I thought I would work Raw Nook NR this morning to look for the Tree Creeper.
Unfortunately I had no joy. But there was a newly arrived Willow Warbler in full song as well as a single male Blackcap again in full song.
Four Chiff-chaffs were trying to claim territories and a bit of a surprise was a pair of Lesser Redpoll. However, I think these may have been passage birds as twice they flew from the Silver Birches only to return again to feed,
Found this female Blackbird who was so intent with finishing off her nest she never noticed how close I was to her.
Blackcap arrives
First arrival of a male Blackcap in song at Caldene fields this afternoon.
Amphibian survey and rescue
Peter Gurney of YWT organised an amphibian survey at Raw Nook NR for the evening of the 1/4/21. This coincided nicely with the drying out of the pond at Raw Nook NR so as well as doing survey work we were on a rescue mission as well.
It wasn’t long before we came across 3 pairs of mating Common Toads in a small pool at Raw Nook NR.
We also found a freshwater Leech species and a single Smooth Newt.
Whilst we found evidence of very small tadpoles no adult Common Frogs were seen. However, given the Frogs have bred and the night was cold the adults may have been feeding away from the water.
We then moved on to the dried up pond. The sight was not welcoming as a number of dead frogs and adult Toads and their strings of eggs were laying on the open ground.
However, all was not lost as we pick another 3 mating pairs of Toads as well as a number of singles and took them to the flooded pools.
Peter rescuing 2 pairs of mating Toads from the dried up pond.
So the survey revealed 19 male and female Common Toads and 1 Smooth newt as well as a large quantity of Toad spawn and a medium amount of very small tadpoles.
Saving the Frogs and Toads
Sadly once again our pond at Raw Nook NR has drained again which is probably due to a break in the clay base. A few days ago it held some water but with the hot weather on Tuesday and Wednesday the water drained very quickly. I went down today to find the pond had dried up with small amounts of dying frog spawn which could not be saved. Walking off from the pond I felt dejected that the problems with the pond has caused yet again the deaths of a number of amphibians.
However, I was in for a surprise!. I met a lovely couple that had quickly seen what was happing and in a matter of hours had managed to save a good amount of spawn and had placed it into water courses nearby. They also stated that they had moved about 10 pairs of frogs and 6 pairs of mating toads. So top marks for there quick thinking! and dedicated conservation work
I must admit Raw Nook NR is looking and sounding lovely at the moment. The spring bulbs are showing really well and there was certainly love in the air with male Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds all in full song trying to attract a mate.
Yesterday with the exceptional warm weather I thought I would try the moth trap to see what spring moths were about. It was a reasonable haul with 12 Common Quakers, 4 Small Quakers, a single Twin spotted Quaker ( second every record and a fresh Brindled Pug (below).
Some out some in!
Received some information from Stuart Tordoff who was working at the Woodlands cricket pitch when he observed a party of 40 Swans ( All most certainly Whoopers ) flying overhead to the N/E of the 18/3. This nicely coincides with a large movement of Whooper returning to their breeding grounds in areas Iceland and beyond.
So while the Whoopers are leaving the spring migrants are returning. The first ones usually is the Chiff-chaff and as of today there are two at Toad Holes Beck and singles at Raw Nook Nr and Low Moor Banks all males and in full song….just waiting for the females to arrive.
You may have noticed the Owl/Stock Dove nesting box which has been erected by the YWT in our area. Well yesterday I observed a pair of Stock Dove in courtship. Now given that the dove may have up to four broods in a season and rarely moves far from where they were hatched the nesting box could well be used. Although given that it has just been erected I suspect not this year….but when love is in the air …who knows!
Spring has arrived
Today I was on the lookout for any spring migrants despite the northerly airflow. Raw Nook NR held the usual suspects with Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds all in full song but no spring migrants.
However, as soon as I entered Toad Holes Beck I got the lovely warm feeling that spring was here. Yes not one but two male Chiffchaffs in full song…brilliant.
There was a pair of Grey Wagtail also at the site and at Caldene fields another pair were feeding in the stream which is excellent news. Also four Meadow pipits were observed heading north back to their breeding grounds.
Recent sightings
Caldene fields has seen a bit of bird activity during the last few days with spring appearing around the corner. In fact 15 Fieldfare were seen moving N on 2/8/2021 also 2 Common Buzzards were circling and calling and 3 Lesser Black backed gull dropped down and fed by the stream before been chased off by the local Magpies.
A Great spotted woodpecker was drumming at Raw Nook Nr today
All a ‘Board’ with the YWT
The main entrance to Raw Nook NR is on Lockwood street in Low Moor. There used to be a small wildlife/site information board that, well had possibly seen better days. However, Sarah and Peter from the YWT discussed (pre-covid) with our conservation group about erecting a new information board. I thought brilliant a new small board would be great…But look what has been erected..WOW!
This brilliant quality information board gives the visitor a real welcome to our reserve.
When I first met Sarah and Peter I explained about my wildlife records that I have been collated for well over the 40+ years. And one particular record of a migrant Nightingale I found on the 8/9/1981 and Sarah stated ‘ We will have to erect a rubbing post in memory’
And dreams do come true! Sarah kept her word!
The Nightingale post- one of several new posts erected around the reserve.
So I would sincerely like to thank Sarah, Peter and all at YWT for all the excellent hard work they have done ….
