Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

Whilst down at Raw Nook Nr this morning I came across a female Broad-bodied Chaser warming herself up in the sunshine and what a beauty!

The species has bred before in our area so fingers crossed she finds a male……

This morning an unprecedented 17 Herring Gulls moved south over Caldene Fields in a single party which was very unusual……  Also yesterday another unprecedented moment happened at Raw Nook NR pond there were excellent numbers of mating Azure damselflies I estimated at least 100 pairs !

At least one pair of Song Thrush have bred at Toad Holes Beck with 2 juvs seen with an adult.  Strangely single male Common Whitethroats were again at Raw Nook NR and Toad Holes Beck yet no females noted.

For me a first brood male Green-veined white seen at Caldene Fields is not a common sighting

I have decided this year to start to record Bees, Ladybirds and Hoverflies in addition to the other species frequenting our recording area.  The reason for this is to try and establish what species at breeding and visiting as well as their status in our recording area.  It will be a big  task especially when time is limited but hopefully an enjoyable one…….

Anyway this morning I photographed a bee that look quite distinctive and it turned out to be a Tree Bumblebee.  The species was first found in the UK in 2001, but is now found throughout the UK after expanding north. It’s status is described as Common.

There was not many moths to identify this morning apart from these two handsome fellows…

Two male Buff Ermine

Yesterday four adult Herring gulls circled Caldene Fields mid afternoon which was unusual.

Found a new moth a Pebble Hook-tip last night at Caldene Fields.  The concern, well to me at first it had a look of a Dusky Hook-tip which is very rare and I don’t think it has ever been recorded in Yorkshire…..  But as my heart rate started to decrease I realised it was just a Pebble Hook-tip.  But still a new site tick makes up for been brought back down to earth……

Pebble Hook-tip a site first!

I have always wanted to be more knowledgeable about what species of bees frequent our recording area but my bee ID skills I have to rate as below average….  But today I thought I would make a start and managed to ID 3 species……I THINK! these were the Red-tailed bumblebee, Early bumblebee and the Buff tailed bumblebee.  ANY BEE EXPERTS OUT THERE, I WOULD BE HAPPY FOR ANY HELP OR SEND PHOTHS FOR ID……

Also of interest were 4 Orange Tip butterflies, first fair count of the species whereas Vic who watches the Tong area told me that Orange Tips have been very common there.

  Red tailed bumblebee

Early bumblebee

Buff tailed bumblebee

A pair of Wrens were feeding juvs at Raw Nook NR, A family party of Long Tailed Tits were at Toad Holes Beck and a female Great Tit was feeding young at Caldene Fields.

Had a rather big surprise in the moth trap last night when a Poplar Hawkmoth arrived…..  In fact it was a good night for moths as 8 different species were caught.  Also at over the fields late afternoon a Common Buzzard flew N/W chased by 2 Carrion Crows….

I have noticed that there were, as yet not that many House Martins in at the moment around our recording area.  However, today 57 were feeding over Toad Holes beck and gradually moving west, which is a good count.

Been a bit late this year with the moth trap as last night was the first time I have used it this year.  So I must admit I was a bit excited this morning to see if anything had been caught.  The trap revealed 3 species the Small Square-Spot, Flame Shoulder and Shuttle-shaped Dart.

Flame Shoulder one of the first moths to be caught, identified and released at Caldene Fields in 2014

As a golden rule I never submit information on this site about a nesting birds, only birds that have bred…..however, today I am going to make an acceptance.  The reason is that a pair of Swallow are about to breed at Caldene Fields for the first time for many years.  And the nest site is in the horses shed where the’  biggest meanest’ stallion lives and it frightens me just been near the place!! so I am pretty sure they have picked a very secure home…… A common Whitethroat at Toad Holes Beck was the only new bird recorded today.

Probable male Swallow about to collect nesting material

Whilst there was nothing new in bird wise this morning I was struck by the number of Wrens that are breeding in our recording area.  They have like the Dunnock have been able to flourish due to the last couple of mild winters

One of the 3 pairs of Wrens at Raw Nook NR

Also enjoying life at the moment are the pair of Mallards that have bred at Toad Holes Beck along with 2 pairs of Coot. Sadly while the Coots are now well established at the latter site and I believe they have dispersed the Little Grebes that also bred on the large pond, as I have not recorded the species now for about 2 years.

A family portrait !

There are 5 Common Heath moths and at least 3 Azure Damselflies at Raw Nook NR along with a good number of Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Female Common Heath on heather at Raw Nook NR

It was an early start again this morning so do vismigging from Caldene Fields watch point.  Sadly whilst there was a good number of Swallows and Swifts about only 2 Swallow were judged to be moving birds.  There was disappointment as it was a wonderful sunny May morning with excellent light showing a lovely range of Spring colours.  A pair of Swifts were observed mating whilst on the wing…….. A male Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Raw Nook NR + my first Azure Damselfly (3) and 6, 7 Spot-Ladybird on Nettles at Toad Hole Beck

   Buttercups at Caldene Fields

Open blue skies

And

Vibrant white of the Hawthorns at Caldene Fields