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A drop in temperature inspires Wood Pigeons…

There was a good passage of Wood Pigeons observed from Caldene Fields watch point today.

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Early morning Wood Pigeons moving S. ( with a distant flock bottom left)                             Birds moved mainly to the E of the watch point over Bierley, Tong and beyond as is normal here. Only a few moved directly over head and to the W. Some could be seen flying very low in the valleys. The movement started just after dawn and petered out around 08.45. Goldfinches also again moved to the S/W and N/W but were sadly uncounted due to the Wood Pigeon observations.  Also noted were a flock of 91 Pink-footed Geese moving N/E

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Wood Pigeons on the move…

I recorded a steady movement of Wood pigeons from Caldene Fields watch point this morning.  All the birds could be seen moving over the Bierley area from just after dawn till around 08.45 when passage slowed down to singles.  I was luck in that there was thick heavy grey cloud but to the east there was an open window where the birds could easily be counted.  A total of 2,389 moved S and 111 moved N.

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Window of opportunity!

Also of interest was a Common buzzard that came in from the S/E pursed all the way my Carrion Crows…

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Still hanging on with the moths…

Given the dry and fairly mild weather for October I have decided to run the moth trap for a few more days.  As I never trapped before in October usually finishing in September so it has been interesting to find out what other species are about in our recording area in late autumn.

So following on from Mondays nice weather I found this morning a single a Blair’s Shouldered Knot, 2 Large Yellow Underwing, a single Common Marbled Carpet and a lovely Red-green Carpet.  Evidence is now suggesting that the Blair’s Shouldered Knot and the  Red-green Carpet are perhaps more abundant in our area than I first thought…

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Red-green Carpet

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Redwings arrivals…

Winter thrushes have been arriving in good number on the back of the ongoing N/E winds. Yesterday at the watch point at Caldene Fields 1,508 Redwings passed through mainly to the N/W and today 4,647 moved again to the N and N/W.  A full account of today’s observations can be found on Trektellon

On the 13/10 a Peregrine Falcon flew through to the N.

 

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I think I will have to wait till next year…

At the moment I have recorded 199 marco moths in our recording areas with the vast majority been caught and identified at Caldene Fields.  I have just started to get to grips with recording micro moths and the total so far is 38.  My aim for 2015 was to achieve 200 marco moths but it is now approaching the middle of October and last night only 2 moths were caught a Large Yellow Underwing and a Feathered Thorn (below) so it is looking a little doubtful….but you never know…

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Thrushes…

The first Redwings and migrant Song thrushes of the year passed over Caldene Fields this morning which was a bit of a surprise given the S/E wind.  However, it turns out that there was an arrival in Scotland which accounts for the birds seen this morning.  Seven Song Thrushes and 4 Redwings were observed.

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A new bird chases through…

At 13.45 today at Caldene fields a number of Magpies and Jackaws  were very agitated…The reason a Peregrine Falcon a probable juvenile suddenly appeared low over the fields followed by a number of Magpies.  The bird then gained height as it saw a number of Black headed gulls overhead. It turned upside down and the poor BH Gulls flew for their lives…

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The gulls were let off…and the falcon went into a cruising mood.

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It stayed for about another 2 minutes always gaining height and suddenly it veered to the west and it was gone…leaving me with a rather big smile knowing that it was a new confirmed bird record for my list of 127 for sightings in our 3 recording areas.

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WRYNECK…

Received a report via my website of a lady at Oakenshaw near to TH Beck that on 17/8/2015 she saw what she described as a browny greyish Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on a tree in her garden.  The lady watched the bird for about five minutes.  She then looked in her RSPB guide book and ID the bird as a Wryneck.…..

At first I have to be honest and thought it can’t be…But I have spoken to her twice now and got a description as well as how it behaved and I am now saying I believe it was a Wryneck which is a brilliant find.  Interestingly a Wryneck was seen at Scammonden (Huddersfield) on the 7/9/15.

On her behalf I have submitted the sighting to the Bradford Ornithological Group to see if there is enough evidence to have the record accepted…so what this space.

 

 

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Autumn butterflies and Ragwort…

The plant Ragwort always seems to get bad press as it can be poisonous to horses.  But  from a wildlife perspective Ragwort is an excellent wildlife plant and provides food into November for many insects.  With the weather being fairly warm and sunny today I checked the local patches of Ragwort for butterflies and found 2 Small Copper, 2 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell all feeding.

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Small Copper

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Peacock

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Small tortoiseshell

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Moths and the Southerly winds…

The recent south/easterly winds have been bringing migrants moths to mainly southern Britain from the near continent.  The moth that everyone is talking about is the Convolvulus Hawk-moth.  The chances of getting one of these large beautiful moths in Bradford is I think slim…But one has reach Huddersfield!

So I have keeping the moth trap on at Caldene Fields mainly to see if any migrant moths appear and this morning the commonest one did a Silver Y.  Whether this one is a true migrant just in from the continent or has bred I’m not sure but I guess the latter…

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