Nightjar |
Swift |
Kingfisher |
NIGHTJAR
Caprimulgus europaeus
Rare summer visitor.
A pair returned to the previous years’ nesting area, where a bird was first seen on 24th May. A nest was found and young were hatched, but they were quickly predated, and it is thought unlikely that a further attempt was made (AJ, PRo).
COMMON
SWIFT Apus apus
Migrant breeder and passage migrant.
After the first arrival of a bird at Otley Wetland on 23rd April, there were a few more records during the month, (including 100 on 30th) before the main influx through May and into the first few days of June. May had good numbers throughout, and notable aggregations of 100 at Soil Hill (in the space of an hour), 150 at Otley Wetland, 141 at Cold Edge Dams, and counts of 117, 306 and 380 on three days at Thornton Moor. The last big inward movement was of 320 birds there on 5th June.
It is a feature of the species that no sooner do some birds arrive than others are on their way back, and, by the end of June, the return movement had started, and continued through July and, to a lesser extent, August. Total numbers seen at Thornton Moor were somewhat down on those of the previous year, with a total count of about 2800 to the end of July, with significant counts of 297, 320, and 432 on three days, and 1491 on 3rd July. This was clearly a day of big movement generally, and 730 birds were seen over Cold Edge Dams.
Numbers reduced in August, though there were records for 18 dates, and a count of 172 birds at Thornton Moor on 6th. There were no September sightings, but a straggler was seen over Silsden on 13th October, comfortably the latest ever for the Group (JLT).
Despite the crowds of Swifts commonly seen over the suburbs in summer, there were again no breeding records, nor even details of probable breeding colonies. It would be nice if some of this aerial activity could be followed up in future years, and proof of breeding established.
COMMON
KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis
Fairly common resident breeder.
Seventy records were submitted, very much in line with 2004, although this year there were more from Wharfedale than Airedale, the proportions being 56% and 40%. Of the balance, the main sightings came from Elland Gravel Pits and Ogden Water. There were no records at all from the Washburn Valley, in contrast to last year, when birds were reported from five locations. One feature was the number of birds seen in urban and suburban areas, such as Bingley, Shipley and Keighley.
Reports of successful breeding were up on 2004. Four young were seen near Otley Wetland Reserve, and four were ringed at Maple Grange. Birds were also observed attending nest holes at Marley and Elland Gravel Pits, and sightings of adults carrying food near Doe Park Reservoir resulted in the discovery of a nest with young.
An interesting record came from Burley-in-Wharfedale, where, having
flown into a house window, a bird was taken into care, following which
it revived and flew off the following day.