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Sweeping brings results…

After all these years at last I have bought myself a sweep net. So if you see a strange man swishing a net about in our recording area..well it’s me.

However, it’s bringing in rewards with various micro moths been caught and identified.

However, on 1/6 I caught my third record of the tiny Cream-spot Ladybird at Raw Nook NR whilst sweeping the grass at the bottom of an Elm tree.

I received another excellent report from Chris of two Red Kites seen again over Oakenshaw. This could suggest the the area between Oakenshaw and the Holme Wood areas could possibly be holding a breeding pair of Kites…

Yesterday I went to Low Moor Banks and there was good news and bad. First the bad, there was no sign again of the Lesser whitethroat and I feel the species sadly may not have bred this year. Three pairs of Common whitethroat were noted.

On a better note I found 16 Small Heath butterflies which is an excellent count for this not so common butterfly in south Bradford. In addition I found 4 male Common Blues which is an improvement on previous years

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Excellent Kingfisher news and…

Received some excellent news for Chris at Oakenshaw who has been diligently been watching a pair of Kingfisher at Woodlands country park which appeared to have be mating. He stated they seem to fly in & out in the same general direction and head towards Oakenshaw beck.

Following further information that Chris had given about a Red Kite seen over Oakenshaw I was contacted by Amanda who told me that she had also seen a Red Kite in the Holmewood and Tyersal area which is well in the range of dare I dream it…A pair of Red Kites.

Thanks to Chris and Amanda for this information. Any further sighting especially if a pair is seen please let me know…Or better still ask it/them to fly over Low Moor..

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Radio interview & Kingfishers…

I’ts been a bit of a busy week. On Tuesday at Raw Nook NR I met Martin Bijl radio presenter local BCB radio 106.6 FM who presents the Bradford Keeping it Green radio show . He wanted to interview me ( At a safe distance ) about how Raw Nook nature reserve has developed, how long I’d been involved in the site and the influence of my wildlife records.

Martin with his boom for social distancing. (left).

It was also a great opportunity to showcase our reserve and the excellent work the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is doing as well as our conservation group. He also interviewed people who were walking in the reserve. And what was pleasing was a lady who stated she had only discovered the site because of the lockdown…but thought it was ..Brilliant!…an oasis!

You may remember the recent Kingfisher sightings at Toad Holes Beck by Peter from Oakenshaw. Well there is further exciting news…in that he has now seen two birds at a pond in Oakenshaw. Now two birds in the middle of the breeding season ” Suggest ” possible breeding coupled with the fact we are now getting an increase in sighting at local ponds in spring and summer!.

Moths records are now starting to increase and this morning there was a lovely Peppered Moth in the trap..

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Sightings updates…

Received some information from Chris at Oakenshaw. He has seen a kingfisher regularly at Toad Holes Beck pond during the last week.Very interesting in that I had a couple of spring and summer sightings last year of Kingfisher at the same pond. It could be that the species is breeding somewhere in the locality and visiting the pond for food or it is a possible non-breeding male.

Chris also stated whilst watching over the fields at Oakenshaw he had noticed circling Common Buzzards with a larger & darker looking bird nearby ( any other sightings of this bird? )… and during the last few days he observed a Red Kite at the same location.

At nearby TH Beck the Canada goose family are doing well..

The moth season is well under way and I was pleased to find not one but two Rustic Shoulder Knot 21/5 which is a new species to my list

In the Low moor & Oakenshaw area a Red Fox has had at least two cubs which is great news.

Excuse me while I yawn….Iv’e been up all night with the family!

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Spectacular Hawthorns…

Today I just simply stood stared and stared at the stunning Hawthorns show at Toad Holes Beck.

But there was more joy as for the first time ever Canada geese have successfully bred at the site.

Five Goslings hiding away ( just to left of centre bird)

Also the Coots have been busy with at least two pairs raising chicks

Recent sightings include a Sedge Warbler in song at TH Beck on 11/5 and a Rose-ringed Parakeet has been feeding recently in gardens at both Low Moor & Oakenshaw.

There has also been a small influx of Swift moving through our area with 14 on the 14/5.

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Dawn chorus…

In the past I have led Dawn Chorus walks to Raw Nook NR in spring. However, these are strange times so I thought I would try to bring a bit of joy by listening to our Dawn Chorus on video which I made on the 8/5 during my very early morning walk.

In addition I have tried to explain why the dawn chorus happens etc.. Hope you enjoy…

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Gooses wars…

Yesterday at Toad Holes beck I heard a call from 2 geese overhead, OH! a pair of Greylag geese..great. Then suddenly the pair turned and started to descend towards the ponds at Toad H Beck.

My emotions were mixed. Very rare to have Greylag geese landing in our area….but Oh! No there is a pair of Canada geese there at the moment and they won’t be happy!!

The Greylags saw no danger and must have thought this pond looks great let’s land.

The male Canada goose could be heard giving out many loud warning calls.

However, the Greylags had made up their minds we are moving in. I knew there was only going to be one winner and out come!

The Canada goose flew into action…And one goose in total shock took flight and moved off to the south. One down one to go!!!

No problem the other one is soon dealt with…The calm then returned to Toad Holes Beck and the Greylags…well they gone and won’t be coming back!

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Migrant updates…

On the 29/4 a Lesser Whitethroat ( a probable passage bird ) was in full song at Toad Holes beck. A little further down in Oakenshaw another L Whitethroat was found again in full song.

Since 1987 I have constantly recorded L Whitethroats (an uncommon bird in the Bradford area) either breeding or on passage in our recording area as well as on the Greenway leading to Cleckheaton.

The reason I believe is that correct habitat for the species exists in this part of south Bradford thus it has become over many years an urban migration route for the species

Today a Yellow Wagtails was feeding around the horses at Caldene fields before moving off to the N/E.

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Low Moor Banks visit…

On Saturday I walked to LM Banks to see if the Lesser Whitethroat had arrived and bang on cue a male was there in full song. Fingers crossed he finds a mate and breeds again. Also there was a Common Whitethroat giving an arial song display. A Common Buzzard was a site first and a 4 Orange tips, and a mating pair of Green-veined Whites.

A Swift and 5 Swallow were observed moving west from the vis-mig point today.

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