Sedge
Warbler |
Reed
Warbler |
SEDGE
WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus.
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
Otley Wetland held
the year’s first two birds on the 21st April. This site then held
various singing birds and a few breeding pairs, with 10 birds ringed between
May and July. Stockbridge was also a regular site for up to two birds,whilst
the number of males peaked at Marley on 24th May with 22 present. Breeding
was suspected at Wydra, where up to two singing males were present all
summer, with the same scenario at Fewston Reservoir.
Elsewhere, low numbers came from sites such as Paul Clough, Chelker Reservoir
and Doe Park Reservoir. The last of the year was at Stockbridge on 29th
August.
REED
WARBLER
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Scarce passage visitor/local and occasional breeder.
Otley Wetland held a singing bird in May and June in the purposely-created phragmites reedbed. Ringing studies at the same site in July yielded four adults and a juvenile.
It was thought more would be present but inclement weather in early August prevented further sessions. Up to two birds were noted at Elland Gravel Pits but no evidence of breeding was forthcoming.
LESSER
WHITETHROAT
Sylvia curruca
Increasingly uncommon migrant breeder/ passage visitor.
The first record was of a singing male at Lindley Green on 26th April. Other records in the Washburn Valley were of singing males at Dob Park on 2nd May and Quarry Hill at Lindley Wood Reservoir five days later. All these sites are relatively close to one another, however, and it is not out of the question that only one bird was involved.
Elsewhere, two males were seen at Toad Holes Beck (Low Moor), on 23rd May. Overall, the continuing reduction in sightings gives cause for concern.
COMMON
WHITETHROAT
Sylvia communis
Migrant breeder/ passage visitor.
The first record of
the year was on 24th April at Shipley, followed by another at Gallows
Hill the next day. During May this species was found at various sites
including Elland Gravel Pits, Otley Chevin, Barden Moor, Knotford Nook
and Toad Holes Beck.
Breeding occurred at Stockbridge, Gallows Hill and probably at Marley
Sewage Works.
During July and August presumed passage birds were noted at Doe Park Reservoir, Otley Wetland, Leeming Reservoir and East Busk Lane, Otley. The year’s final sighting, again presumably a bird on passage, was at Cold Edge Dams on 2nd September.
GARDEN
WARBLER
Sylvia borin
Migrant breeder/ passage visitor.
Otley Wetland held the first on 21st April, with various further records coming from this site. During May singing birds were noted at many places including Marley Sewage Works (3), Gallows Hill (3), Stockbridge (2), St Ives (3) and Sun Lane (2). Singles sang at many other sites.
The only proof of breeding concerns two pairs feeding young at Timble Ings in June, whilst the year’s last was at Paul Clough on 21st August.
Migrant breeder and passage/winter visitor.
During January, February and March, records came from gardens in Ben Rhydding, Burley and Bingley, with up to two present at a time. One on 4th April at Low Wood may have been the first actual migrant. After this date, records started to come from many different places, with up to six on Otley Chevin by the month’s end. Singing was recorded at various locations in the summer and breeding was confirmed at Timble Ings, Ogden Reservoir and Barden.
Autumn passage never really got going and records fizzled out, until the penultimate three at Denholme Clough on 12th September. The last was in the observer’s garden in Baildon on 26th November, a presumed wintering bird
WOOD
WARBLER
Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Migrant breeder and occasional passage migrant.
The first returning bird was at the stronghold of Strid Woods on 30th April. This site provided many records of up to six singing males. They were also noted at Hanging Wood near Thruscross Reservoir, Shipley Glen, Otley Chevin, Heber’s Ghyll Wood, Baildon Bank, Drebley, Swinsty Reservoir and Myrtle Park.
Only one pair was reported to have bred in Dob Park Wood, whilst there were no records from the formerly-productive Folly Hall Wood. The final record was at Dob Park on the 30th June, thus this species was only with us for two months of the year.
CHIFFCHAFF
Phylloscopus collibyta
Common migrant breeder and passage/winter visitor.
The only winter record was of a single at Dowley Gap Sewage Works from January until early March. The first singing bird was noted at Sun Lane on 17th March. Ten days later there were nine singing birds between Lindley Wood Reservoir and Swinsty Reservoir, and, by 12th April, 12 were singing between Lindley Wood and Dob Park Bridge.
Reported throughout the area during the summer, with breeding proven at Strid Woods, Lindley Wood Reservoir and Menston. Passage continued at many sites into October, with the last at Barden on 24th.
WILLOW
WARBLER
Phylloscopus trochilus
Common migrant breeder/passage visitor.
The first reported date was 8th April, when a male was singing on Hazlewood Moor. Numbers built throughout the area, and, by 28th April, 38 singing males were recorded at Denholme Clough alone. The amount and spread of records bears testament to how common this species is, but breeding was only proven at Otley Wetland.
Small numbers were reported filtering through the area in autumn, with 23 the highest count, at Denholme Clough on 8th August. Most had departed by 15th September, when one was at Fewston Reservoir, but a late straggler was in the Shibden Valley on 14th October.
GOLDCREST
Regulus regulus
Resident breeder and passage/winter visitor.
An under- recorded species. Up to 20 gathered together near Barden Tower in January. The highest count elsewhere in the early months was just six at Elland Gravel Pits in March. There were no definite breeding records, but birds were present throughout the summer at sites such as Timble Ings, Otley Chevin, Rivock Edge Plantation, Farnley and St. Ives.
Numbers built in the
autumn, with up to 20 at Denholme Clough in September and October, and
up to 30 at Timble Ings in September. At Thornton Moor Reservoir, the
maximum count was 25 birds on 30th September, during a period when 85
birds were seen in all. The second winter period had no double-figure
counts.