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Four new ones for Raw Nook Nr

It was a good morning at Raw Nook NR today….well until the heavens opened. However, I found four new species for our recording area 3 moth and one Ladybird which was new for the Raw Nook species lists

I have been searching for two moths of the Eriocrania family semipurpurella & sangii. Both are very difficult to visually identify but thankfully can be easily identified by their leaf mines of which I found both on Silver Birch trees.

Whist sheltering from the rain under a Sycamore tree I found the third new species an Orange Ladybird – Halyzia sedecimguttata (left). The species has been found at TH Beck and Caldene fields before but now its safe to say the species is established in all three of our recording areas.

And the four was another mico moth Grapholita compositella.

A family of Mistle Thrushes have successfully fledged 3 chicks at Raw Nook NR. Family feeding regularly in Caldene fields.

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Work starts in Raw Nook NR

We are all aware how the main footpaths at Raw Nook are continuously flooding causing people to walk into the woodland to get round the flooded areas. Also I have lost count of the number of people who have asked ‘ What’s happened to the pond, it dry’s out in days?

Well the main problem of the flooded footpath and woodland is that when the culvert (left) overflows it causing flooding.

However, the Bradford Countryside Services have now started repair work at the site.

This includes digging a trench from the culvert which will lead the water into the pond instead of flooding the footpath.

First impressions this is an excellent idea in that it solves the flooding problem and it just may help the pond.

As we know the pond has a leakage problem however, it now appears to have a constant steam of water going into it. Yes the leakage problem will still be there but it may just retain at least some water which will help to bring back the frogs/toads and dragonflies.

There is also going to be some upgrading of the footpath which leads to the bridge as this gets very muddy and is near unpassable especially in winter.

So all in all a big thank you to Danny Jackson and the Countryside Services for all their hard work.

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Ever wondered about…

Why the footpath that leads from the top of Raw Nook NR (near the bridge) to the metal gate adjacent to the golf course has low flying bees in spring time? Come on!…..with all the problems in the world this must have been a burning issue…..ha…HA However, I have be asked mainly by dog walkers (who train their dogs there) will the bees sting?

Well there are two bees involved one is a mining bee Ashy Mining Bee Andrena cineraria and the other is the Lathbury’s Nomad Bee Nomada lathburiana. which is not a common bee, well certainly not in our area. Both bees are completely harmless and will not sting humans or pets.

If you want to find out more about our special guests Please see my short video…thank you…SAVE OUR BEES!

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Osprey Dilemma!

Yesterday I received a very interesting email about a report of an Osprey that had been seen flying north over Caldene Avenue on 7/5/. Later in the day on the 7th a third party report came in of another Osprey sighting in Silsden heading north towards Skipton. Could it have been the same bird?

I asked Mark a birder from Wyke if he has anymore information relating to these sighting. If anyone else has any information about the possible Low Moor bird please let me know. Thank you.

There was some good news from TH Beck. On 7/5 I thought I heard a Sedge Warbler in very brief song at the same location I found the bird on the 3/5. However, today I can confirmed the Sedge Warbler is still at the very same location. Hmm…probably the warbler has been there for 6 days now, suggesting a possibly of first time breeding…Fingers crossed!

The first pair of Canada geese have successful family at TH Beck.

Four Swifts (First of the year) flew S/W and 5 Swallow N/W over Caldene fields this morning.

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Finger crossed for the Sedge Warbler

The first week in May is always an exciting time in the bird watchers calendar with warblers and other spring migrants reaching their breeding ground or exploring new potential breeding areas. Yesterday morning at the middle pond at Toad holes Beck a male Sedge Warbler was in full song trying to attract a mate as they do most year at this site. However, I only glimpsed him as he was singing deep in cover and left him to it, but I managed to record his lovely song.

With Blackcap singing in the background

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A surprise from Dewsbury…

John Tordoff had a nice surprise this morning on his visit to Dewsbury country park. He heard a warbler that caught his attention and he recorded the bird which was in full song. The bird turned out to be a Garden Warbler! Interestingly it’s Latin name is Sylvia borin. With borin given as it’s name due to it’s plain plumage. However, it’s song is beautiful and far from boring…

Whilst Dewsbury country park is not in our recording area the sighting is of real interest. Dewsbury is not that far away from TH Beck so who knows it might appear in our area like it use to do back in the 1980s.

Thanks John for your sighting.

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Common Whitethroats

Two male Common Whitethroats at Low Moor Banks this morning both in full song.

No sign of it’s cousin the Lesser Whitethroat as yet but a single arrived yesterday at spurn point so they maybe on their way.

However, I doubt there will be any Whitethroats this year at Toad Holes Beck due to very loud pile driving which is taking place at the newly constructed units which are adjacent to the site.

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Three new Bee species found…

The heather area at the top of Raw Nook NR is proving to be a really good area for some locally uncommon invertebrates. The other day whilst looking at the Grey Mining Bee – Andrena cineraria nesting colony by the sandy footpath I thought I would look in another nearby area to see if they were there too.

Andrena clarkella

I soon found another bee species I was not familiar with.

After research this species turned out to be an Early mining bee (Andrena clarkella).

However, I noticed another bee species a Nomada leucophthalma (Below) which is “cuckoo” bee of A. clarkella which was entering the nest of the Early mining bee once it had left to lay its own eggs.

My attention was then drawn to another Nomada bee which looked different from Nomada leucophthalma.

I believe this bee is the Gooden’s Nomad Bee – Nomada goodeniana. I have sent photos and information to someone with more knowledge than me on Bee species for a second opinion.

The total number of bee species now for our urban area stands at 17 species

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Creeping about, pays off!

Today has been an excellent day! I went down to TH Beck to look for any possible new spring migrants but apart from a couple of female Blackcaps that had recently arrived there was little else on the migrant front. I then went to the large pond where a faint high pitched call caught my attention…Tree Creeper!

I walked into the Goat Willow scrub and waited. Then a Tree Creeper appeared climbing up one of the Willows. It saw me and flew deeper into the willows.

I crept forward trying to get a better view. The bird was however, calling and again it came into view. Then suddenly it dawned on me why it calling? I bet there is a pair of Tree Creeper. So I waited and waited then I was right I saw two birds together in early courtship. Brilliant. It was time to leave and with fingers crossed I strongly believe they will breed in the area which if they do will be the first known breeding record in our area for the species.

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