Just had an email from David Rhodes at Oakenshaw. Yesterday had a once in a life times experience…
A kingfisher yes a ”Kingfisher” flew into his lounge through the French windows. It arrived in a flurry of noise and speed. He managed to gently ambush it with a towel while his wife Paula tried to photograph it but sadly it was a bit too quick for her and it happily flew off at tremendous speed up the stream bed.
David stated ” What a privilege, we were able to study it while it came round.” Recently it’s been flying up and down the stream and may have nested nearby.
Saturday was our workday at Raw Nook NR and Richard ( our conservation management coordinator for our group ) highlighted that the Bramble was again encroaching into parts of the Heather and had to be cut back.
Clearing Bramble from the Heather…
So whilst the picking team did an excellent job picking up litter the rest of the group got tangled up thinning out Bramble growing over the Heather. From my point of view whilst Bramble is an excellent wildlife plant it has to be managed or the Bramble would simply take over the Heather and our lowland heath habitat.
The day however, started with some bad news and some good news. Sadly I found a dead Field Vole on the path at site. But the good news was I now have a confirmed record that the species is present at the site and it is probably providing a food source for the local Tawny Owls.
Whilst I was getting tangled and cut by the Bramble I noticed a Hawker dragonfly fly past in the warm sunlight, then another one came into view. I first thought they were Emperor’s but they were stunning Southern Hawkers..
So it was a good worthwhile morning’s work and incidentally if you walk through the site just stop for a minute and gaze at the wonderful vibrant Heather full of bees and Hoverflies ….and just think you are you only just 4 miles from Bradford city centre…
It’s been a busy few days…Firstly I attended a meeting on the 8th of August at Dealburn Road with members of YWT and Bradford council to discuss in the main the future of the site. There were some very encouraging comments coming from the council about the prospect of the site remaining a wildlife site and even enhancing the site’s bio-diversity.
My aim was to explain how my biological records have illustrated the ecological importance of this urban site which is only 4 miles from Bradford city centre. To illustrate this point even further Andrew Cutts from Bradford council found some larvae of a possible Alder leaf beetle Agelastica alni as we were walking the site….If confirmed it would be an excellent record of this uncommon Beetle which is expanding it’s range.
The recent influx of Painted lady butterflies into the UK has brought this beautiful butterfly to our area with 3 ( possibly 4 ) at Dealburn Road on the 8/8. Two at Caldene fields and 1 at Raw Nook on the 10/8. So keep an eye out in your gardens…
Part of the second arrival of Painted Lady butterflies…looking in excellent condition
And some good news on the Dragonfly front with a female Southern Hawker egg laying at Caldene fields on the 10/8….But perhaps the best news is following the recent heavy rain….it’s back
The pond at Raw Nook NR….but I fear it will drain away again in the next week or so…
Whilst waiting for the Six-belted Clearwing moths to arrive at Dealdburn road a few days ago I was drawn to a tiny insect on a blade of grass. As I took a couple of photos the insect jumped onto my hand.
I quickly realized the insect was a nymph Cricket Sp but no idea which. Research revealed a Long winged Conehead Bush cricket. I contact Orthoptera UK and they confirmed my sighting and stated that the species has only arrived in Yorkshire during the last few years and Dealburn road is a new site for the species…
Then today I visited the site again to try and attract the Six-belted Clearwing moth but forgot the lure….I wonder if it’s age…However, bizarrely as I am near the bottom of the site a Banded Demoiselle Damselfly landed in front of me and moved off S/W…never recorded the species before in the Low Moor/Oakenshaw area…
The Clearwing moths ( Sesiidae ) are active by day but very elusive. Recently sex pheromones lures have come onto the market where a male (if in the area of the lures ) arrives thinking a female is in the locality, thus giving the observer a chance to record these uncommon/rare moths.
I did my research and found that the Six-Belted Clearwing is found in grassy areas with it’s food plant of Bird’s foot trefoil. DEALBURN ROAD!
So I bought a lure and today at the site I found what I hoped was the best location and as the yellow Trefoil blew in the wind I hung the lure up….
Within about 20 minutes not one but three Six-Belted Clearwings came in. Brilliant news…
I now need to prove that the species is resident at the site as the lure can attract a male from a distance away so further surveys will take place. Yorkshire Moths status for the moth is National Status: Nb. Local Status: Rare and local resident.
Went to my daughters house in Birkenshaw last night. Parking the car in the drive and my eye was caught to a small brown butterfly on the house wall.
Amazingly the butterfly was a very worn White-letter Hairstreak..
Now there was an report a good number of years ago of someone seeing a WLH on an Elm tree at Raw Nook NR.
I have since searched and searched over the years for this uncommon elusive butterfly at Raw Nook NR but to no avail….but this sighting…well it’s given me renewed optimism.
Ever moth-er’s heart is lifted when they find a beautiful Hawkmoth. I have been waited for a Hawkmoth at Caldene fields for a couple of weeks now but then on Sunday, just like waiting for a bus….two come along.
Well the day had finally arrived our big 24 hour Bio-Blitz with the YWT and the sun was in all its glory. The main aim was to find and record as many species of flora and fora in Toad holes Beck and Raw Nook NR within a 24 hour period as well as enjoying the local bio-diversity. In addition there were various organised activities throughout the day.
I personally set off at 11 am and wandered into Raw Nook Nr to look for butterflies to record. On the way I saw at 2 Painted Lady butterflies….brilliant but there was more to come at Raw Nook Nr as I found a Small Heath butterfly….
A site first!!! with the nearest colony been at the Dealburn Road site at Low Moor.
More butterfly news came when the YWT conducted a guided plant and tree walk and found a further 2 Painted Ladies. All these butterflies looked very pale and worn suggesting these migrants had traveled a long distance.
The day seemed to fly by and it wasn’t long before there was a group gathering for the pond dipping session at 5.30pm.
The event was well attended with children’s faces beaming with excitement as they caught and identified (With the help from Sarah from the YWT) numerous pond creatures.
Excited children at the pond dipping ( Some adult also wanted to join in the fun!! )
After my tea I returned to YWT gazebo to be met with big smiling faces…..
Peter Gurney ( YWT officer) had been walking up a small path at Toad Holes Beck where against all the odds he had found a Bee Orchid which has never been recorded before at the site…Brilliant news Peter.
An excellent count of 25 people turned up for the YWT’s Bat Walk at 9 pm and the bats certainly didn’t disappoint…
It was then time to put out my moth trap to see what species of moths we could record. We also went into Raw Nook putting a sugar/alcohol mixture on some of the trees and watched and recorded various moths feeding…Well…what else would you want to do at 3 am in the morning!!!!
The moth trap was finally opened at 7 am and it was a real delight to note how many people were interested in these wonderful insects.
At 8 am the moment everyone was waiting for the opening of the small mammal trap laid down by experts from the YWT.
Wood mouse
Brilliant… 2 Bank Voles and 3 Wood mice (which is a new species for our group) were caught. The rodents were then released back to their homes by some very… excited children..
It was now 9am and I was shattered…but just had enough energy to conduct a Bird song Walk. However, coming back through Toad Holes Beck a member of the YWT shouted ‘ Tree Creeper ‘
Now hands up Martyn I thought no way…I have only 2 records of this rare visitor and both are in autumn…But she was right a stunning adult Tree Creeper..Well done!!!
As yet myself and Peter Gurney have not formulated all the records but my guess would be over 200 species were identified and logged with at ‘least’ 4 new species for our recording area. Further details to follow.
A big ‘Thank You’ to Sarah Goldsmith and Peter Gurney from YWT for all their hard work in making the event such a success.
Today I went to look for the Bee Orchids at Dealburn road wildlife site. After a little searching I found an amazing 24 of these beautiful Orchids.
Many are still to bloom so they should be on show till around early July. If anyone would like to see them please email me for more information at http://mvi.priestley @blueyonder.co.uk.
Also there was a further surprise when I saw a Painted Lady butterfly fluttering by…another Painted Lady was also seen later on at Caldene fields. This follows on from a small influx that have come into the country….so watch out they may be some near you..
Well! some exciting news to report…firstly a date for your diary…
The 29th of June…which is the day of our BioBlitz (An event in which volunteers work together to find and identify as many species as possible)
But it’s not only about identifying species….The event has been organised in the main by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust ( thanks Sarah..) with plenty of exciting activities for everyone. So come along with the family and do some pond dipping, find out why birds sing, and the bat walk was brilliant last year…so come along and enjoy the wonders of an urban oasis….
EPSON MFP image
And the second exciting news is our groups new emblem .
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