European
Nightjar |
Alpine Swift |
Swift |
Kingfisher |
EUROPEAN
NIGHTJAR
Caprimulgus europaeus
Rare summer visitor.
Birds returned to last years breeding site on the 28th May (G+L Pettit et al) and by early June at least two males and a female were present. Subsequently, a nest was found and the two young were ringed before successfully fledging (PR). A second brood was attempted but the single egg was predated.
Sound recordings showed that the breeding male from 2002 did return this year but did not form part of the successful breeding pair this year.
ALPINE
SWIFT Apus melba
Nationally rare vagrant
Following acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee, a bird seen on 26th April at Otley becomes the first Group record (BB).
COMMON
SWIFT Apus apus
Migrant breeder and passage migrant.
The first spring migrant was over Marley Sewage Works on 22nd April followed by other April birds at Otley Gravel Pits and Addingham. Numbers soon built up in early May with 100 at Otley Gravel Pits on 1st, 200 at Esholt on 4th and 91 still there on 17th.
Early July saw the main exodus with a peak of 400 over Queensbury on 1st July after which numbers sharply dropped until the last sighting at Burley on 2nd September.
COMMON
KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis
Fairly common resident breeder.
The River Wharfe is good for this species with birds regularly being seen at Otley Gravel Pits, Barden Bridge, Askwith and Beamsley and breeding occurring at Ben Rhydding.
The River Aire also
has a sustainable population with young visiting at Stockbridge and other
birds being seen at Esholt, Myrtle Park, Silsden, Marley, Shipley Glen,
Farnhill Ings and Hirst Wood.
Breeding was noted at Elland Gravel Pits.
The Washburn is not the most reliable river for kingfishers but birds were seen near Dob Bridge and at Beaverdyke and Swinsty Reservoirs.
Other sites holding this species included Leeming Reservoir and also a bird in Denton village.
ROSE
RINGED PARAKEET Psittacula
krameri
Uncommon visitor.
One bird frequented Caldene Fields between 17th and 28th August (MVP).