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…
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!
Had to capture the moment today ( although the quality is poor ) of our Blue tit seconds after they had just hatched…
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.
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.
Yesterday I went for my daily walk at Raw Nook NR and found not one new species but TWO for our recording area.
It was whilst I was looking for spring hoverfly species that I noticed what I thought was a Digger Wasp. I went to investigate and found a number of these insects flying about and going into a colony of small holes.
Then I noticed a grey bee species going into and coming out of the same holes.
Research has revealed that the Nomada lathburiana (Lathbury’s Nomada bee) visits the nesting sites of its host Andrena cineraria. It lays an egg which hatches first. It then kills the larva of the Grey Bee and feeds off the provisions.
The UK status of the Grey Mining Bee – Andrena cineraria is described as common by the NBN Atlas.
However the Nomada lathburiana (Lathbury’s Nomada bee) is not common and the NBN Atlas only hold 590 records ( with few for Yorkshire ). I have submitted both records to I Records with an additional request for more status information.
David Rhodes from Oakenshaw contacted me regarding a moorhen nesting in a stream near his garden. He had a quick look at her nest and she had laid six eggs
However, strangely she was also sat on a leg bone off a chicken!
The eggs are round the edge and the bone is more or less in the middle of the nest explained David.
Very strange!.
However, by the 18/4 David had named his knew neighbour Leonara and there was good news has three little black balls of fluff with little red beaks were now following her around in the stream.
However, there was still a mystery for David ….what happened to that chicken bone…
Talking of nesting birds I have a pair of blue tits nesting in my garden at the moment.
Shehas have laid 7 eggs as of 20/4 and she is now starting to incubate them. The female stays in the nest box overnight while the male roosts elsewhere. However, she leave the box early morning for a short while to feed then returns to carry on incubation. Hope to video the chicks when they hatch…watch this space.
It was a quiet day at the vig-mig point today. However, on my walk to Raw Nook NR I passed Bradford south golf course which is closed at the moment due to the virus.
On the putting green feeding with 2 Pied Wagtails was a handsome male Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
A record shot of the wagtail( sadly taken into the sunlight)
The bird fed on flies and worms for about 5 minutes on the pristine grass surface before moving off north.
The species is an uncommon passage migrant in our recording area.
Also what has been interesting during these last few days is a pair of Lesser black backed gulls at Caldene fields.
The gulls which are adults have been feeding in the fields which in it’s self is a bit unusual as they fly over on passage but rarely land.
However, the pair have been showing signs of courtship and I suspect (like in Lidget Green Bradford ) the birds could be about to nest on a factory roof in the local area.
Keep a lookout for the lovely Orange tip butterfly especially the males…there were 3 at CFs this morning.
Today I did an hours Vis-mig ( visible migration ) at the watch point. After about 10 minutes a small party of 4 Swallows arrived moving N/E followed by a single later also to the N/E. Then on one of the walls was a smart male Wheatear probably making his way N.
A passage Willow Warbler was in song nearby. Sadly as yet no WW claiming territories in either Raw Nook NR or TH beck.
A Chiffchaff was observed nest building which is a welcome sign.
Hands up..I’m not really a huge fan of spiders. However, I realise their importance within an environment and particularly in our own local ecosystem.
So I was certainly interested to record a new species of spider found in the moth light box on the 10/4 at Caldene fields
The Thick-jawed Orb Weaver Pachygnatha clercki (opposite) which is a common spider in the UK.
And thankfully it is well marked so fairly easy to identify.
Talking of the moth light box I had another surprise yesterday when I found a
rather large beetle….well very large.
A Black Sexton Beetle – Nicrophorus humator had somehow got into the box. I must admit I got a twig and let the beetle craw onto it before sending him/her on their way.
Regarding migrants 2 passage Willow Warblers were at Caldene fields on the 11/4. However, slightly worryingly I have not found any claiming territories at either Raw Nook NR or TH beck.
The beautiful Orange tip butterflies are showing off at the moment with 3 at TH Beck on the 11/3
Stuart Tordoff reported that he had seen a Swallow whilst walking on the Greenway but as yet I have not had a sighting of one. I will finish with a bizarre tale from David Rhodes at Oakenshaw who stated he had observed a Moorhen on a nest. As she got off the nest he saw that not only was she sat on eggs but….wait for it….a chicken bone!
