Rock
Dove |
Stock
Dove |
Wood
Pigeon |
ROCK
DOVE Columba livia
Resident feral breeder.
The abundant feral population is so commonplace within the area that no observers have submitted specific records.
STOCK
DOVE
Columba oenas
Resident breeder.
Reported throughout the area in small numbers with confirmed breeding at Esholt Sewage Works.
Double figure counts came from Esholt, Cullingworth and Farnhill Ings with the year’s highest total being 26 birds at Sunnydale Reservoir.
WOOD
PIGEON
Columba palumbus
Resident breeder and winter visitor.
A common and abundant species found throughout the recording area. Breeding took place at a variety of sites including Timble Ings.
No huge flocks or movements this year with 830 at Esholt Sewage Works in January being the best count. Elsewhere 200 were noted in the Shibden Valley in January and 128 over Denholme Clough in October.
COLLARED
DOVE
Streptopelia decaocto
Common resident breeder.
Still remains very common in suburbia with fewer birds reported from the more rural areas and from the city centre. Counts of 20+ not uncommon from gardens and parkland.
COMMON
CUCKOO
Cuculus canorus
Migrant breeder.
Only recorded in the BOG area for just over two months this year with the first at Barden on 23rd April and the last at Thornton Moor on 26th June. In the main, records referred to single calling males but two together was not uncommon and four birds were noted on Ilkley Moor on 26th May.
The majority of records came from the moorlands with sites such as Beamsley, Bingley, Morton, Burley and Barden Moors being mentioned as well as the reservoirs at Thruscross, Lower Laithe and Thornton Moor. Lowland sites recording this species were Shipley Golf Course, Strid Woods, Elland Gravel Pits, Drebley, St Ives and Marley.