I have had two good days of visible migration. Yesterday 251 Swallow moved through Caldene Fields with a further 131 today. The birds were moving to the south and northwest. However, I did have a welcome surprise this morning as I braved the cool westerly wind a party of 24 Sand Martin (passage birds that aren’t that common here) which flew N/W.
Oh! no it’s just out of our recording area…
Claire the chairperson for our group told me this morning that she had seen a strange caterpillar on the road at the Greenway at Oakenshaw last week and after she did some research the beautiful caterpillar turned out to be a Sycamore moth acronicta-aceris
The status of this moth that I have not recorded before is described by Yorkshire Moths as: Rare and local resident and in fact there are no known records in the Bradford area.
My heart sunk as I asked Claire again where she had found it…Oh! no it’s just outside of our recording area…So cannot be include it in our records…But on the positive side I now know the species is in the local area…So if you see me walking with my head down I’m looking for the darn caterpillar…
Survey work reveals some interesting finds…
I have recently been conducting survey work at Raw Nook nr concentrating mainly on insects i.e. moths, hoverflies and other general insect orders. I am trying to build up a more comprehensive species lists for the insects that breed and frequent the site. Please see my results on the insect page of this website.
I was really pleased to have found recently the Aristotelia ericinella moth which has not been recorded before in the Bradford district and my view that the species could well be established was proven when on the 20/8/17 I found a further two moths in the same heather patch.
In addition I have added a Hoverflies to the list a Volucella inanis below.
The other exciting find is ‘ Conops quadrifasciatus ‘ a species of fly from the genus Conops. Their larvae are endoparasites of bumble bees of the genus Bombus. The species is not common. However, I have found one in Raw Nook and on the 20/8/2018 I found a pair mating at Caldene Fields which is excellent news.
We as a group have exposed swaths of heather following the work to matlock the encroaching Silver Birches and it is starting to be dividends with two Southern Hawkers now patrolling the heather. All in all very good news!
Tree Pipit…
I observed a migrant Tree pipit today at Caldene fields…not seen this species for a good number of years on passage in our recording area.
Sightings update…
On the 10th of August at Caldene fields there was a Southern hawker dragonfly patrolling the fields. Later in the day I visited Raw Nook nr and found another Southern Hawker (or possibly the same one as CFs) however, this male looked to have newly emerged and approachable.
At Caldene fields the following day I found a pair of Small Copper butterfly which had been mating and then another single at Raw Nook nr.
Probable male Small Copper just after leaving female.
Also at the fields were a party of 14 Linnets( which is a good count) including at least 6 juvs following local breeding. And importantly were 3 juv Goldcrests which suggests that the pair that I believe bred at Toad Holes Beck has had a second brood which is excellent news…
Rare moth found at Raw Nook nr…
On Saturday 29th of July I was looking for any new day time moths to record at Raw Nook nr and Caldene fields. At the former site I was looking in the heather near to the pond on my hands and knees (hoping no one would be watching me…) when a small moth caught my eye.
After several times of trying to photograph it I decided to catch it in a specimen tube to get a closer look at it and to take a number of photos.
I let the moth go and headed to the large heather patch near the bridge by Caldene fields. I also searched there and thought I saw another of the same moths.
At home I was unsure what species the moth was but my research revealed the moth to be Aristotelia ericinella a heathland species whose lava feeds on heather.
I checked on Yorkshire Moths for it’s status and it is described as: National Status: Local
Local Status: Rare and local resident.
County records total of 37 records from 17 sites. First recorded in 1883.
Surly… I thought I must have miss identified the moth. So I contacted Charles Fletcher from Y Moths for a second opinion.
The reply came…
Ooh that’s nice Martyn. Not known from your area, in fact probably no records within about 25 miles, but not uncommon on lowland heaths. The only place I’ve seen it is at Strensall where it is pretty common. Also not uncommon at Skipwith and Hatfield Moors. I wonder what else you have lurking there!
Regards Charlie
A brilliant record for our area and group. This goes to show what a valuable asset the lowland heath habitat is at the site…and what excellent hard work we as a group are doing to preserve it.
Citizens help out and welcome funds…
Citizens help out! what do you mean…Well let me explain.
Sunday the 23rd of July was a Low Moor & Oakenshaw Conservation group work day grubbing up sapling Silver Birches and removing Rosebay Willowherb from the lowland heath at Raw Nook nature reserve.
But today we had a group of young people from the ‘ National Citizen Service ‘ helping up as part of one of their projects. And not only did they give us their time and hard work but as part of the project they raised funds our group through sponsorship gained by speaking to businesses etc.
The total they raised is around £200…..Which is brilliant. So a massive big thank you from the L&O.C.Group
And this group of young adults who were a real credit to the N.C.S had another surprise as they had secured sponsorship from //www.ata-builders-merchants.co.uk/ of Cleckheaton and the company donated a wheelbarrow, spades and gloves to our group. So again many many thanks to ATA builders for their generosity.
So it was time to get stuck in to the days tasks and by did everyone get stuck in..
But suddenly Charlotte stated ‘ Ive found a moth ‘ I went to look and it was a Map-winged Swift only the second record for the site…so well done Charlotte..
The Silver Birch saplings were grubbed up using matlocks and an estimated count of uprooted trees must have been well over 250…leaving a large area of heather to flourish and wildlife to take advantage. And this happened when I heard a loud shout from James who was busy digging up the Birches ‘ Martyn I’ve found a blue dragonfly’ I ran over to find..
a stunning newly emerged Emperor Dragonfly. Excellent observation skills James..
But there was another task pulling up the Rosebay Willowherb which was gradually suffocating the heather.
And working diligently together as a team they cleared plants from a huge swath of heather.
So by 16.00 this excellent hardworking group were on their way home. But from speaking to many of them they had really enjoyed the experience of working and learning about our environment and it’s ecosystem. So what did I, and I’m sure the rest of our group gain from their presence, well…watching the next generation been so enthused by the tasks they were undertaking.
Future good luck to you all….
Sightings update…
I found a juvenile female Common Redstart that appeared at Caldene fields on the 17/7/2017, the first sign of moving birds as the species does not breed locally.
Three Poplar Hawkmoths and a single Peppered Moth were at Caldene fields on the 18/7.
And I found a new Hoverfly ( Eristalis hoticola) at Raw Nook Nr on the 16th bringing the total of species list of recorded Hoverflies to 11 that I have identified.
And whilst cutting back the Bramble at Raw Nook Nr on the 19th I disturbed a Buff Footman moth which I have not recorded there before.
Butterfly survey…
Yesterday as the sun shone I conducted a butterfly survey at Raw Nook Nr and Caldene Fields. A total of eight species were found which is relatively poor for mid summer. The butterflies I expected to record but didn’t were the Small tortoiseshell, Common Blue, Peacock and perhaps Red Admiral. The butterfly that appears to be doing very well is the Ringlet with a minimum count of 44 at Raw Nook Nr and 35 at Caldene Fields.
The white butterflies were both down in numbers and a poor count of 4 Meadow Browns at Raw Nook Nr was poor.
On a better note the first Gatekeepers (below) appeared with 1 at Raw Nook Nr and 2 at Caldene Fields.
The Straw Dot moth is enjoying the summer with a good count of 37 at Raw Nook Nr and 11 at Caldene Fields.
Two Poplar Hawmoths were at Caldene Fields last night.
Second Blackneck found…
The wildlife site just off Dealburn road at Low Moor is proving to be a bit special. Although it is not part of my local patch (the 3 sites covered in this blog) I am recording and monitoring the fauna and flora as I believe the site has real ecological value.
During my last two visits I have been observing the local day time moths. There are two species of Burnet moths the Six-spot and the Narrow bordered Five-spot which breed in the area
Narrow bordered Five-spot Burnet.
I have also found on two occasions in July a Blackneck moth which is not a common moth locally.
I have only one previous record which was at Caldene fields on 12/7/2016
According to Yorkshire Moths the Local status of the moth is described as: Scarce and local resident.
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