Today I thought I would look for any other early signs of autumn as I am now starting to record autumn species of moths.
From the vis-mig point I noted the first returning (2) Meadow Pipits moving S following breeding at higher elevations. Goldfinch as normal here were on the move with a respectable 89S + 29N with 7 present. Two early Lesser Redpoll S was a surprise and 12 Swallows were on there way S.
A Red Admiral was feeding at Caldene fields.
However, the heather patch at the top of Raw Nook NR which is still full of feeding Bees and Hoverflies is still reminding me of summer!
If you would like to encourage wildlife to your garden and have the benefits of healthy home grown fruit throughout the year…well perhaps consider the…
About 2 weeks ago a local resident was walking his dog at 06.30 at Raw Nook NR when he saw a man shooting birds with a very ” High powered air rifle with a large telescopic sight”!. The man was challenged and told it was a public place and a nature reserve but sadly this seemed to have little effect on his activities. Interestingly around that time I found 2 dead rabbits in the fields but assumed that they had died of natural causes
The resident called the police and a log was created.
Further to that incident 2 youths on push bikes were seen shooting air rifles a few days later but rode off when they were seen also at Raw Nook.
Then yesterday my wife and I walked down Cleckheaton Road and found 4 dead wood pigeon 3 on the pavement one actually on the road. Later in the evening whilst driving up Cliff Hollins Lane we counted a further 12 dead Wood Pigeons on the road.
In the morning I contacted the Police and suggested it maybe related it to the male/s with the air rifle.
I have also received some information from David Rhodes at Oakenshaw relating to the death of more WP and a Canada goose at Woodlands country park.
The police have taken the matter very seriously but need more information like a further description of the male/s, a car reg number, an address or any further information. If you have some information please call the police and quote Log 956 of the 13/8/20.
However, DO NOT CHALLENGE OR CONFRONT the male/s but call the police straight away.
Yesterday I managed to add two new moth species to our Raw Nook list of species. Both were found by gently tapping shrubs whilst holding my net underneath which if lucky a moth may fall into the net, ID and released.
Firstly there was the unmistakable Acleris emargana which was found low down in a Hazel bush.
This moth appears not to be common in our area but common in the the UK.
The last record was at Caldene fields 1/9/2015.
The second moth was Lathronympha strigana.
Interestingly this COULD be the same moth I caught at Caldene fields earlier in the year on the 22/7/2020.
As that moth was a site first for our area.
Changing the subject to birds….I have noticed a steady movement of Lesser Black Backed gulls through our area in recent days. And I was surprised to notice that on the nearby cricket fields there must have been around 60 mainly juvenile birds feeding which is unusual so early in August. There was ago a juvenile male Blackcap moving through Caldene fields…Sorry but all signs that autumn is not far away..
Today whilst checking the moth trap today there was a rather large strange visitor lurking in one of the egg boxes.
It was a Nicrophorus investigator beetle which is a SITE FIRST. They are scavengers, living off and breeding in rotten carcasses. They have a very good sense of smell and are reputed to be able to smell a carcass up to two miles away.
So in other words helping to keep us humans safe from diseases by cleaning up!
Then on top of the trap I found 3 small Ladybirds. Two 10 Spot Ladybirds – Adalia decempunctata which I have only recorded once at Low M Banks.
The third Ladybird was a 2 Spot – Adalia bipunctata which is a new species for our area…which is great news!
The last surprise was a Brown Hawker dragonfly seen at LM Banks yesterday which was also a site first!
So far it has been an excellent year for the Southern Hawker dragonfly in our area.
In the last few days I have recorded 9 freshly emerged insects, with 5 noted today at Caldene Fields.
They seem to love garden ponds so keep at eye out for them as the larva crawls out of the water usually on to a plant stem.
The larva gradually breaks open in the middle of the case and the beautiful dragonfly emerges.
It then pumps blood into it’s wing and once the wings are fully open the insect will flies off to find a mate.
As normal around the first week in August young migrant birds start to move away form their breeding grounds as they prepare for autumn migration. So it was interesting to note a wandering juvenile Willow warbler at Caldene fields today.
Received some good news from Chris who lives in Oakenshaw. A pair of Tufted ducks have successfully bred at Woodlands country park…The first time the species has breed in the Low Moor/Oakenshaw area as far as I am aware, which is excellent news…
Received some excellent news about the possible Dark Mullein – Verbascum nigrum at Low Moor Banks from Joan Dobson ( Botanist) of BEES.
She has confirmed that the plant is indeed a Dark Mullein and stated ‘ What a record for the site!). It also bring the total of species identified at LMB to 150….
I also had some good news on the moth front with a second known record for our area of a Coxcomb Prominent – Ptilodon capucina
The beautiful but strange looking Coxcomb Prominent
Today I took my lure to the area where I have previously attracted the Six-belted Clearwing moth at Low Moor Banks. This area is near to Dealburn Road where there is an abundance of Bird-foot Trefoil however, the weather was dull and cool, not the kind of weather the moths like. Hence I didn’t attract any.
However, I started explore more around this area and just beyond some Goat Willows I found what I first thought was a Great Mullein – Verbascum thapsus. However, something just seems different about it so I took some photos of the actual flowers, leaves and stem.
And it could be Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum! which is uncommon in the north and would be a new species for the site.
I have asked Joan Dobson of BEES for her opinion.
I also found a Bee Orchid in poor condition which is possibly one of the two found earlier in the month.
I have to say the lovely Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica (left) is one of my favorite wild flowers with it’s orchid like flowers. And half way up the main path just on the right there is about six just ready to burst into flower.
Also showing off was the large clump of Tansy Tanacetum vulgare. Now the rare Tansy beetle who’s preferred food is the Tansy (But only by water) is only recorded at two UK site!
Is that a beetle I see in the middle of the plant?……Stop dreaming Martyn….
I went up to Low Moor Banks today armed with my sweep net. I was mainly looking for moths, butterflies and the two Bee orchids which were seen last week.
Sadly I didn’t see any orchids but I recorded 4 male Common Blue butterflies and found 2 yet to be identified micro moths.
However, whist sweeping in some tall grass I found a small beetle…
On closer inspection I thought a Ladybird species…but then thought ” Iv’e not seen one like that before!
I did some research and still nothing fell into place…even thought it must not be a ladybird…But then an image came up of the 10 Spot Ladybird – Adalia decempunctata. Yes I asked the same question..Where are the spots…
Well it is a 10 Spot but of the form ” bimaculata ” And the good news is that this nationally common ladybirds is a new species not only for LMB but for RN and TH Beck as well.
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