Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

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

Firstly there was a Common Whitethroat singing from an old nesting area today which is good news.  A pair of Swallow are still feeding over Caldene Fields and hopefully may stop to breed like years gone by.  A Smooth Newt walked across the path at Toad Holes Beck.

Female Smooth Newt

A pair of Large Red Damselflies were in the mating position at Caldene Fields

And the Common Frog appears to have done well this year at Raw Nook NR

Decided on an early start this morning to watch visible migration from Caldene Fields watchpoint mainly looking for hirundines and Swifts.  But a big surprise when at 07.42 I picked up a Little Egret flying S/W just south of Wyke that the really good news.  The bad news if it been further north it would have probably been in Caldene Fields air space and I would have been able to count it as a new bird for the site……  But still unlike last years bird at least this one is a Bradford bird and the record will be forwarded to the Bradford Ornithological Group.

Little Egret moving S/W

No laughing please at the excellent quality photo……..

Also moving but not in any large number were Swallow 9W, Swift 4W and House Martin 1W

One of a number of Swifts moving to the W

Found 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly my first of the year today and another first of the year were 3 Common Heath moths both at Raw Nook NR.  The Common Heaths are particularly pleasing as they were in the heather area we had cleared of Silver birch saplings last year……

There was a pair of Grey wagtails down at Toad Holes Beck and butterfly sightings included 2 Green-veined & 4 Small Whites and a pair of Speckled Wood post mating behaviour.

Male & Female Speckled Wood

Female Blue-tailed Damselfly

Just Look at my smart black bib…..

After the heavy rain this morning I thought I would leave it till mid afternoon to check on the patch!  Sadly no Whitethroat Sp were heard and the Sedge Warbler as expected appears to have moved on.  Keeping a close eye on a pair of Linnets that has been in and around Caldene Fields for a few days now.  The reason Linnets were regular breeders here but that was many years ago……

Found this Small White resting deep in a Nettle bed at Toad Holes Beck

Received some information from Vic a birder who watches the Tong area who stated that he had a Lesser Whitethroat on the 5/5.  It is interesting this morning at the eastern end of Toad Holes beck I found a Lesser Whitethroat.  As I have said before there is an Urban Migration route that runs basically north to north west through my recording area and it could well be that the Tong bird is making it’s way west along the route and is trying to find suitable habitat and a mate.

Also at Toad Holes Beck this morning was a Sedge warbler a bird that is a fairly regular spring passage bird.  Hopefully one year they might breed……….

A male Common Whitethroat was seen today at Raw Nook NR.  However, I hope I’m wrong but from the location I suspect the bird may be a passage bird and not looking to attract a mate. Two Swifts moved W over Caldene Fields and the pair of Tufted duck are still at Toad Holes Beck.  A Seven Spot Ladybird was seen at toad holes Beck.

An early start this morning at the Vismig point at Caldene Fields proved fruitful with a Swift flying S/W at 07.23.  Also moving were Swallows with 6 N/W & 7 LBB Gulls W + 3 N.  A skylark was in full song over the fields reminding me of days gone by when the species was a regular breeder.  Still no Common Whitethroats in at the moment which is starting to cause a concern….

A number of butterflies enjoyed the early morning sunshine with Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and Small whites recorded.

Speckled Wood feeding on Dandelion at Toad Holes Beck

Dappled shade at Raw Nook NR