Low Moor and Oakenshaw Wildlife

Not really in our recording area…..but fairly near… heard a Lesser Whitethroat in full song at Wyke Beck this afternoon.

Bird wise my records show that the first week of May is usually fairly good here with something of interest turning up.  But I got off to a bad start today in the fog and a slight N/E wind with nothing new of note and even the local Willow Warbler were have heartedly singing…..

There was one bright note…..the Coots at Toad Holes Beck have successfully bred

I have been concerned basically from the beginning of the year that the sightings of Song Thrushes here were basically non existent…..

However today there was a single at Raw Nook NR and 2 males + a possible female at Toad Holes Beck.  Mistle thrushes were also showing well with 3 noted at Toad Holes Beck including a fine male in full song.  There was 3 singing Wrens at Raw Nook NR.

All the Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs are now established on their territories but I suspect I will have to wait a little longer for Whitethroats etc. to appear.

There were 5 House Martins over Raw Nook NR this morning and a Swallow was feeding over Toad holes beck.  As yet no Common or Lesser Whitethroats have arrived in our recording area.

Spring flowers are well in bloom at the moment with excellent patches of Bluebells, Field Forget me-nots and Red Campion noted.

Bluebells at Raw Nook NR

In the afternoons sunshine 3 Small Whites, a single Green-veined Whites and 2 Small tortoiseshell were noted.

Field Forget me-nots at Toad holes Beck

No new migrants in today probably due to the cool northerly winds.  Two Grey Herons were at the pond at Caldene Fields, two together is a bit unusual here.  A pair of Blackcaps were observed in early courtship and 3 singing Willow warblers were at Raw Nook NR.  Up to 5 Chiffchaffs were at Toad Hole Beck.  One thing did brighten the morning was the early Bluebells bursting into life also at Toad hole beck.

One of the 2 Grey Heron at Caldene Fields

For some reason there were a lot of carrion Crows observed this morning from the watch point.  Eight were calling from nearby trees and a further 4 were feeding in the fields.  In addition the species seemed to be the only birds flying on the cool N/W wind.  It was poor at the watch point and no new migrants were noted however, 2 Swallows were at the Chain bar roundabout yesterday so they should be moving though any day now.

View from the watch point. Clear blue skies but no birds!

A check this morning revealed no new migrants had come in overnight.  The Willow Warblers that were at  at Caldene Fields yesterday have passed through. A Greylag Goose flew low to the S/E and 3 Jays were at the watch point.

A number of Willow warblers passed through Caldene Fields this morning with 3 in one tree!

A reasonable migration watch this morning with a skien of Pink footed geese moving north.  These were followed by a pair of distant geese coming in from the S/E.  I first thought of possible Bean Goose but try as I may the camera never lies and I was brought down to earth as they were Pinks.  Two Herring Gull briefly landed in the fields before moving of S/E and a Imm Mute Swan flew to the S/W.  Another Willow warbler has arrived which was singing at the watch point.

Mute Swan moving S/W

A Reed Bunting was calling at Toad Holes beck which was interesting and the 2 Blackcaps appear to claiming territories.

There was a big fall out at the refilled fisherman’s pond when 2 addional Canada Geese flew in but they were chased off by two very anger geese!

Forget it we were here first!