2004 Report

2005 Report

2006 Report

SKY LARK Alauda arvensis
Resident/migrant breeder and passage migrant.

Found throughout the area in small numbers with the majority of records being of singing males or birds recorded on visible migration watches. Singing birds were recorded on many of the moorlands and adjoining in-bye land as well as at lowland sites such as Otley Gravel Pits.

Twenty birds were seen on Midgley Moor in March with ten at Soil Hill and thirteen at Timble Ings in October.
Breeding was confirmed at Thornton Moor Reservoir and Langbar, Ilkley and Kildwick Moors.

HORNED LARK Eremophila alpestris
Rare vagrant.

An excellent find was of three birds on Soil Hill, Raggalds on the 10th and 11th November (KM et al).

TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

The population appears to be fairly stable. The first returning migrant was at Sword Point plantation on 15th April whilst the last was over the Thornton Moor vismig watchpoint on 14th September. Up to three singing birds were regularly seen at Timble Ings and breeding was confirmed here. Other sites, which held singing birds, included Hebers Ghyll, St Ives, Luddenden Dean, and Sword Point plantation.

Autumn passage birds were noted from the usual visible migration spots, for example Thornton Moor and Denholme Clough. A total of six birds flew over Kex Gill during July and August. Details of “vismig” are in separate article.

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
Common resident/migrant breeder and passage visitor.

A widespread and abundant breeding species in the area. Large numbers can be seen passing through on visible migration watches with the peak count of 3546 coming from Thornton Moor Reservoir on 20th September. Details of migration totals can be found in a separate article at the back of this report.

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WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta
Scarce but regular winter/passage visitor.

Single birds were noted on various dates between 1st January and 23rd March at Marley Sewage Works (KM et al). A single had returned to this site by 8th December and was seen to the year-end (KM et al).

YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava
Increasingly uncommon migrant breeder/passage visitor.

A pretty bleak picture locally for this declining species. Otley Gravel Pits managed just one record all year on 1st June while passage birds were noted in the autumn at Barden, Caldene Fields and Thornton Moor Reservoir in August and over Sandwith Moor on 14th September. A single was seen at Cold Edge Dams on 26th May. Three were observed over Luddenden Dean on 24th August.

Knotford Nook was the only regular site to hold birds. From the 19th – 21st April there were eight birds here including two males of the race m. f. flava or Blue Headed Wagtail (AJ et al). At least two birds hung around this site throughout the breeding season and while breeding was suspected it was not proven.

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GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea.
Resident migrant breeder and winter visitor.

There is no reason to suspect any change in status for this species with a healthy spread of records coming from right across the recording area. The year’s highest count was six at Denholme Clough in August. Breeding occurred at many sites including Leeshaw, Menston and Hebden Bridge.

PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba.
Found in larger numbers than the last species and at more sites. Like the previous species there is no apparent change in status. Breeding was noted at many sites including Cringles Lane at Silsden and the highest counts were a little disappointing with 52 at Esholt in October and 100 at Marley in January.

The nominate race m.a.alba was recorded at Fewston Reservoir from 27th-30th April (AGG) with a maximum of three on 28th. A single bird was seen in Queensbury on 3rd of May (NK)

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