Sand
Martin |
Swallow |
House
Martin |
SAND
MARTIN
Riparia riparia.
Common migrant breeder/passage visitor.
The earliest migrants were two over Barden on 17th March,and 10 at Otley Wetland the following day. Numbers built in April with up to 130 at Knotford Nook, 60 at Marley Sewage Works and 100 at Otley Wetland.
The colony on the River Wharfe at Ben Rhydding was the target of a ringing session in June, with a total of 297 birds caught and ringed. The colonies at Barden, Bolton Bridge and near Otley Wetland were not counted this year.
Return passage was generally light, and 66 birds at Cold Edge Dams on 6th September was comfortably the highest daily count. The last sighting was on 18th September, when 10 birds flew past Thornton Moor Reservoir.
BARN
SWALLOW
Hirundo rustica
Common migrant breeder and passage visitor.
The year’s first was a single bird which had returned to Denton Park by 3rd April.
A total of 118 young were ringed at Knotford Nook. At Howgill, two out of three broods were successful and five young fledged at Low Snowden. One pair nested at Whetstone Gate, which is 390m above sea level. No other breeding data was forthcoming, though the species is known to breed commonly throughout the area. Submission of all known data would help to produce a truer and fuller picture.
The main autumn movements were recorded at Thornton Moor Reservoir, where some 2060 birds passed through between the end of July and mid-September. Three-figure totals were noted on seven dates, with three days producing between 300 and 400 birds. Elsewhere, Denholme Clough had 470 birds and Beaverdyke Reservoir 200.
Remarkably, a very late bird was seen for the third year in the past four, and the individual at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 5th December becomes the group’s latest ever (DCB).
HOUSE
MARTIN
Delichon urbica
Common migrant and passage visitor.
On the 9th April, four were at Thornton Moor Reservoir and two were at Elland Gravel Pits. After that, there was a steady trickle of birds into the area, without any notable gatherings. Again, the lack of breeding data was disappointing. At Timble Library, 12 nests were occupied, with 12 young being ringed, whilst at least three nests were noted in Queensbury, and birds bred in Luddenden Dean.
The largest autumn parties this year were 250 at Lindley Wood Reservoir and 300 at Barden on 18th September, with 145 at Denholme Clough the following day. The last of the year were 25 at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 6th October