An unexcepted site first today both for our recording area and for my visible migration records.
A party of 5 calling Barnacle Geese followed a skein of 63 Pinks which came in low from the E and moved directly over the watch point at Caldene Fields.
Friday the 13th Fungi survey…
Lets make it Friday the 13th…stated my good friend Joan! a very knowledgeable fungi and plant expert. She kindly offered to help me in conducting a fungi survey at Raw Nook nr… Fungi is a subject I knew little about but the survey would boost my knowledge and the species list for the reserve. On the day Joan brought her friend Veronica another fungi expert so the seen was set..
Joan and Veronica looking at Birch Polypore growing on a Silver birch tree.
Whilst I ‘ tried ‘ to learnt the techniques of identifying fungus the two ladies were busy finding a credible 15 different species..
Now I had found 4 easy to ID species prior to their visit which brings the total for the site to 19 species…and I’m sure there will be more finds to come!
Fancy a Wild Day Out ?…
Sarah Goldsmith of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Low Moor & Oakenshaw Conservation Group, are having a ‘ Wild Day Out ‘ it starts at 11.30 of Sunday the 22nd of October at the Woodlands cricket club, Albert terrace, Oakenshaw, Bradford BD12 7AX….so come along and join in the fun..find out how to make woodland jewellery and autumn leaf cards and much more.
Then at 13.30 myself and Sarah will be conducting a nature walk around Toad Holes Beck and Raw Nook nature reserve. We will be looking for what is lurking under logs, even finding fungi, learning about why birds sing and much more.
So find out what is on YOUR doorstep..
For further details contact either Sarah on 01484 663185 or 077557001271 or myself at mvi.priestley@blueyonder.co.uk
Single biggest party…
My single biggest party of Cormorants 17 flew past Caldene Fields this morning to the S/W
The first real Redwing movement…
A Redwing day! at the watch point as just after dawn 2 parties came in from the E and moved high to the N/W. However, the the movement swung to the W/S/W with birds coming in low, some below the tree line making counting difficult then gaining height as they moved W/S/W. I found a nice track to the S/E of the watchpoint where birds were constant. At lease 4 Fieldfare were counted as well as 3 Mistle Thrush using the same route.
Redwings moving S/W
Also I have been struck by the number of Goldfinches that are moving through another 73 moved both to the S/W and N. However, there are still plenty of local birds about that are still feeding and it was nice to see a party of 30+ feeding today including 1st winter birds.
Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws affected by the cold…
This morning the temperature before dawn was 4.5 c. This drop saw 634 Wood Pigeons moving S and 102 Jackdaws moving S/W. It was a good day also for finch movements with 89 Goldfinches, 34 Chaffinches, 5 Redpolls, 1 Brambling , 5 Siskin and 4 Linnets recorded.
A new bird to add to the lists…
Yes this morning at 09.12 a calling Grey Plover came in low from the east and went straight over the watch point at Caldene Fields. This is my first sighting of the species on visible migration and the first sighting for our recording area.
This bring the total number of different species observed passing through our area on migration to 94 and the total species for the 3 sites to 132
Work day a huge success…
Today our group had a work day at Raw Nook nr. The main challenge at the site is to carry on removing the Silver Birch saplings that have encroached into the heather. The day began at 10 am with 12 members armed with matlocks and plenty of spirit…An estimated count of around 200 saplings and tree stumps were removed.
The fruits of all our had work is now starting to show with a very large area cleared of Silver birches revealing large sways of heather.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust…
Our group has had just had some excellent news…Myself along with Claire (our chairperson) and Richard attended a meeting with Sarah Goldsmith from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust who is working in the Low Moor and Oakenshaw areas of Bradford on an Urban Engagement Project.
The project aims to get people outside more, using the green and wild spaces that are in cities.
Low Moor and Oakenshaw Conservation Group have teamed up with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to support the habitat development work we are doing at Raw Nook Nature Reserve and Toad Holes Beck.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has received £19,990 from People’s Postcode Lottery and £5,000 from Bradford Council for a brand new Leeds and Bradford Urban Engagement project. This year-long project aims to consult with individuals and groups to establish how to improve access to natural green spaces and educate communities about the benefits of the natural world, engage with local schools, to reach young people and encourage them to discover, explore and protect their natural environment. This will ensure long-term, sustainable, community support for this fantastic pocket of urban wildlife, and will help the next generation make positive choices to look after their planet.
Sarah is going to be running free events in the community, so look out for them and show your support.
As a spin off from our involvement with YWT they will be helping us with management issues for both sites which in turn will benefit our wildlife.
Hirundines just keep coming…
Another good day at the watchpoint today with excellent numbers of House Martins and Swallow moving mainly to the N/W through Caldene Fields.
The final counts were House Martins = 282 N/W + 67 S/W & Swallows 55 S/W and 302 N/W.
Two Red Admirals were also observed gradually moving to the S/W.
