Jay |
Magpie |
Jackdaw |
Rook |
Carrion
Crow |
EURASIAN
JAY
Garrulus glanarius
Resident breeder: woodland.
A good number of records is reflected in the better spread of sightings throughout the year, and the larger numbers of birds seen, other than on migration. After last year’s exceptional autumn total of getting on for 200 birds, normality returned in 2006, and the seasonal total of 23 is lower than many of the daily counts in 2005.
Aside from this aspect, the highest location day total last year was five. This year it was surpassed on eight occasions when six were seen, and seven were noted at Baildon Bank, Stockbridge, Oxenhope and St. Ives. Whether this indicates a genuine increase in numbers or better coverage remains to be seen. The birds seen at Stockbridge were mobbing a Tawny Owl, whereas a bird at Otley Chevin at the end of May was on the receiving end, when it was chased off by Linnets.
After an absence of garden records in 2005, there was a welcome return this year, with ten reports, though only three locations were involved, in Baildon, Ilkley and Ben Rhydding.
Birds were actively disputing and establishing territory in Shipley Glen in March and April, but breeding wasn’t definitely proved there, or, indeed elsewhere. However, there was circumstantial evidence in the form of family parties seen on Ilkley Moor and at Baildon Bank, and birds were also thought to have bred in the Glovershaw area.
MAGPIE
Pica pica
Common resident breeder: a wide range of timbered areas, including suburbs
and farmland.
Whilst a total of 84 records could be considered reasonable for a familiar species, this is yet another case where nearly all of them - 83% - came from one contributor. As this main observer is an Otley resident, most of the year’s records refer, not surprisingly, to this general area and lower Wharfedale. Extrapolating these to the whole recording area indicates a healthy population; not, however, the most meaningful method of making this assessment.
It is inevitable that the biggest flocks will attract the most attention, and these were noted away from the above localities, comprising flocks of ten and twenty in the general area of Hirst Wood and Dowley Gap, and 30 at Ogden Reservoir in March. A smaller count of eight birds was equally notable, as it involved this number in an Ilkley garden, and even a single bird at Barden in November justifies a mention, as the observer commented the species is anything but common in the area.
In contrast to last year’s good total of passage birds, there were no reports of visible migration at all this year, but at least there was a breeding record, as a nest with young was found on Sandwith Moor.
EURASIAN
JACKDAW
Corvus monedula.
Common resident breeder: woodland areas, suburbs, farmland and rock faces.
Whilst reported in every month, there was just one record for July, and numbers were generally down on 2005, brought about to a large extent by considerably smaller numbers of birds being recorded on autumn migration.
The first seven months of the year produced few notable counts, although there were two three-figure totals, 151 at Cononley Ings in March, and at least 100 at Marley Sewage Works in May, and, in the same month double-figure tallies of 80 in Strid Wood and 55 at Addingham. The biggest numbers were seen from August to the year end, and there were six double-figure counts of thirty or more birds, plus several three-figure totals. These were 105 at Norwood Bottom in December, 200 in the fields near Cullingworth in that month, with the same number at Bolton Park in August, and counts of 300 at Strid Wood and Thornton Moor Reservoir in October. The latter figure represented an influx of birds on migration, but, that apart, autumn migration was light, with 21 birds over Denholme Clough the only other contribution.
A few garden records this year concerned birds in Otley, Keighley, Ilkley, Baildon and Queensbury. Evidence that birds were preparing to breed came in the form of a pair seen nest-building on a lighting column at Marley Sewage Works, a bird stripping bark from a tree in Keighley for nest material, and nest lining of another kind being obtained in Cononley by a bird plucking hair from the back of the cow on which it was perched.
Breeding was definitely established at St. Ives, where six pairs were already nesting by 8th April, and where numerous natural nest-holes were being used by early June, and Addingham, where a colony about 55-strong was located in an old quarry. In addition, ringing activity confirmed breeding at Norwood Bottom, Glovershaw, Menwith Lane, Low Snowden, Pool Paper Mills and Middleton Woods, with at least 19 juveniles being located.
ROOK Corvus frugilegus.
Resident breeder: woodland and farmland.
As in 2005, this species was reasonably well-recorded, with a number of reports of sizeable flocks, and breeding data was the best for some time.
There were two flocks of at least 100 birds, at Ryecroft on 14th January and Cullingworth on 24th December, and around 50 birds were present at Leeshaw on 25th June and Swinsty on 20th December. The only other significant post-breeding count was a minimum of 60 birds on Ilkley Moor on 13th July.
Rookeries were established at Farnley and near Pool, but no specific information was provided. However, occupied nests were noted at Howgill, Menston and Spring Wood (Baildon), numbering 13, 16 and 17.
CARRION
CROW
Corvus corone.
Resident breeder: a wide range of wooded, farmland and moorland habitats,
and suburbs.
Last year’s Report commented that only three observers had bothered to submit records so this year’s tally of 13 represents comparitive riches! Even so, most of these came from the same source of many records of common species, and referred to elsewhere in the Report. Compared to 2005, there was a greater spread of records geographically, giving a better overall picture, there was useful data on birds apparently relocating, and there were even breeding records.
In general, numbers seen at any one time struggled to reach 25, but there were notable counts of 70 roosting at Ogden Reservoir in January, 47 at Cononley Ings in March, 100 at Marley Sewage Works in the same month, and a particularly high number of at least 225 birds which built up in a presumed pre-roost gathering on the shore of Swinsty Reservoir on 6th February. In addition, a total of 175 birds moved past Caldene Fields during the early autumn, including a day count of 38 in late October.
What was presumably the same leucistic bird seen in some previous years around Queensbury turned up there again in August, after a gap of nearly two years, and other birds showing variable amounts of white in the plumage were seen in Baildon, at Thornton Moor Reservoir, and in a Ben Rhydding garden, where it and others fed from and near the bird-table.
Successful breeding was indicated by the presence of juveniles at Gallows Hill, and near Weecher Reservoir.
COMMON
RAVEN
Corvus corax
Increasingly common resident: possible winter visitor: mainly moorland
and adjoining areas.
The 85 records received are in line with other recent years, and with the current expectations for what was, up to about ten years ago, a very scarce bird in the area.
However, in 2006, records were not as widespread as in some other past years and all but three of them came from two main areas: between Bolton Abbey and Barden Scale, and the moorland above Oxenhope. Most of Wharfedale’s 60 sightings were from the well-recorded Barden Scale watchpoint, where birds were seen in every month. Often these comprised singles or pairs, but up to four birds were seen quite regularly, and there were good counts of five in July and September, and six on 11th July.
In the south of the recording area, Warley Moor Reservoir and the adjacent moorland predominated, and though most of the 13 records involved ones and twos, this location had the year’s highest count of seven birds on 5th September, and four were seen three weeks later. Four birds were also reported from Leeshaw in January, and there were other sightings in this same general area at Ovenden Moor, Thornton Moor Reservoir and Ogden Reservoir. Away from the two apparent strongholds, birds were seen on two occasions in the Washburn Valley at Lindley Wood Reservoir and Dob Park, and there was one Airedale record from Silsden.
There is every indication that the birds seen in the north and south of the area represent separate populations, but, given the proximity of the different locations within the two main blocks, it is likely a limited number of birds is involved in them. There is no indication that breeding is taking place within the present revised recording area, though probable juvenile birds were seen at Barden in June and July.
COMMON
STARLING
Sturnus vulgaris
Resident breeder/winter visitor: a wide range of habitats, particularly
urban areas, farmland and moorland.
The 2005 Report commented that Starling is never well-reported, and stated that over 50% of the records emanated from Thornton Moor. What a difference a year makes! In 2006, there were 88 records, of which only 10% came from that location, there were many good counts throughout the year, and there was breeding data.
The biggest numbers were seen in three main periods: the winter months, on post-breeding dispersal, and in the autumn influx of winter visitors. Wintering birds represented the smallest of these, although there were 13 reports of three-figure flocks at both ends of the year, with the largest of these being 400 at Cononley Ings in March, and, in the same month, 500 at both Otley Wetland and the Prune Park area of Bradford.
In the post-breeding period, the end of May to early August, Thornton Moor Reservoir came well into the picture, and the total of 6840 recorded was much in line with 2005, including significant day counts in June of 870, 1050, 1500 and 3200. Between 100 and 300 birds were also seen in this period at Glovershaw, Trough Lane, Leeshaw, Ilkley, and, most notably, an Oakworth garden which had 100 birds on 6th June. The total for all these locations and others was about 1250.
The Thornton Moor totals for autumn migration were also remarkably close to those of the previous year, at around 2075, but 975 was the highest day total. Caldene Fields fared slightly better, with a seasonal tally of 2235, but spread over 19 days, and with a day’s maximum of 720. Of the other locations, 320 passed Denholme Clough, 245 moved through Paul Clough, and there were day counts of 350 at both Glovershaw and Ogden.
In addition to the Oakworth one already mentioned, there were garden records at Otley, Ben Rhydding, and, presumably, Queensbury, as a bird which fell down a chimney there eventually found its way out via the front door. As this is the same address where last year a Starling dived into a large storage bin, and emerged unscathed, the birds there appear to lead a charmed life.
Whilst many juvenile birds were seen during the year, clearly not all of them were raised locally, but family parties seen at Sconce, Oakworth and Glovershaw probably indicated local breeding, and a bird was seen using a nest-hole in Queensbury.