Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

Can now confirm that a pair of Tree Creepers have bred at Raw Nook LNR.

On the 1/5 I saw an adult collecting food as it climbed up a nearby tree.

When it had a beak full it flew off to an area which is really suitable for the species breeding requirements.

This is the first time to my knowledge that the species as bred at the reserve, which is great news.

Migrants have been slow to come in. However, Lesser Whitethroats have been passing through with a single on the 1/5 at Caldene fields, 1 was at Toad Holes Beck on the 2/5 and another single sang there on the 5/5. A Sedge Warble sang briefly at the very bottom of Toad Holes Beck on the 6/5.

Two Common Whitethroats were at Low Moor Banks on the 28/4

The first spring migrants, Chiffchaffs are back in our area!

On the 19/3 I visited Low Moor Banks and found a single male Chiffchaffs in song. I then went to Toad Holes Beck and found a further 3 birds. Raw Nook LNR also held 2 singing birds with Caldene fields having a probable passage bird on the following day.

We did some tree pruning at Raw Nook LNR on the 21/3 and just as we were finishing I glimpsed a nearby Tree Creeper which was great. But on the next tree was another TC which looked alot cleaner and smarter and I took this bird to possible be the male. Both birds then flew off together which is excellent news.

If they find a nest site it would be a new breeding record for the reserve.

Over the years I have noticed that ground nesting warblers like the Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs have been looking at territories in spring at Raw Nook LNR but few have actually bred.

One of the reasons for this is Bramble that has encroached into their favourite nesting areas within the site. So on Saturday it was our groups conservation morning and we all set about clearing the dense Bramble and cutting down some small saplings to let more light into the area. It was hard work! but worth it as we all hoped that when the males arrived back in spring they should find a more suitable nesting habitat.

Following on from my sighting of a Barn Owl in our area on the 22/10/23. There has been another excellent sighting…well in fact a video of a Barn Owl (Thank you Tracey) this time in the Cleckheaton area.

I suspect this is the same bird that I sighted at East Bierely and a member of the public who reported a ‘ Whitish looking owl ‘ at Caldene fields Low Moor in November 23.

In winter a Barn owl will move further for it’s food than it will in the breeding season when food will be more plentiful.

The distance between the Cleckheaton site and Raw Nook LNR is approximately 4 miles as the crow(Owl) flies, which is well in the range of a winter feeding owl.

I remember a few years ago seeing a Common Buzzard in our area which was a site first! and now last year I found a juvenile been fed by an adult which was excellent news.

Fingers crossed the same happens with the Barn Owl and it breeds in the south Bradford area.

I more than welcome any further sightings in our area and the Spen Valley.