Grasshopper
Warbler |
Sedge
Warbler |
Reed
Warbler |
GRASSHOPPER
WARBLER Locustella naevia
Uncommon passage migrant and occasional breeder
As a species whose presence in the area is erratic, it is unfortunate that, of five birds reported, only three were backed up by a description.
The substantiated records came from Doe Park Reservoir, where a bird was seen on 19th June (MD), and a clearly different one was heard singing in another part of the site from 8th to 13th August (MD, SJ). Elsewhere, another singing bird was present at Stockbridge Nature Reserve on at least 1st May (SR).
SEDGE
WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus.
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
Numbers appear to be down on last year, particularly at Marley Sewage Works, where this year’s highest count of twelve birds, on 21st May, compares with the 2004 tally of 22. The maximum count at Otley Wetland was six, up to three were at Stockbridge, two were seen at Fewston, and singles at Doe Park Reservoir, Chelker Reservoir, Elland Gravel Pits and Low Moor. This last record was yet another from the productive garden mentioned elsewhere in the Report. The first and last birds, at Marley on 26th April and Stockbridge on 4th September, were on unremarkable dates.
Records of confirmed breeding came from Stockbridge, where nestlings and juveniles were seen, Otley Wetland, where parents were feeding young, and Marley Sewage Works, at which location an adult pair accompanied two juveniles. This last seems a particularly poor return for what was formerly the area’s stronghold, and at which double-figure counts were made earlier in the season. Whilst there was no evidence of breeding at Fewston, the birds seen and heard there were in exactly the same spot as in the previous year.
REED
WARBLER
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Scarce passage visitor/local and occasional breeder.
The first record of 2005 was a singing bird at Silsden on 28th May. This relatively late arrival was mirrored at Otley Wetland Nature Reserve, which has, since the creation of a phragmites reedbed, become the species’ stronghold locally. There, the first reported birds were seen on 1st June, and the last record was dated 7th August, though it is possible birds were there after that.
Up to five singing males were present at Otley, but the only breeding report was of two pairs feeding young. However, in the absence of any ringing activity at the site in 2005, this may not represent the total breeding success there of this elusive species. At Elland Gravel Pits, which used to be the area’s only breeding location, food-carrying was observed in late June.
LESSER
WHITETHROAT
Sylvia curruca
Increasingly uncommon migrant breeder/ passage visitor.
The 2004 Report seems to have been prophetic in saying that the continuing reduction in sightings gave cause for concern.
This year there has been but a single record, though a remarkable one, of three juvenile birds feeding in a Low Moor garden on 1st August. What makes the record even more surprising, is that in 2005 the species didn’t breed at nearby Toad Holes Beck, from where previous records have emanated.
COMMON
WHITETHROAT
Sylvia communis
Migrant breeder/ passage visitor.
There is reason to suggest a decline in the local fortunes of this species as well.
As recently as 2002, between 60 and 70 birds were reported from 26 locations, with a maximum of fourteen birds at one particular site. This year, the comparable figures are 34, 14 and five, this maximum having been noted at Elland Gravel Pits in May, though three birds were seen at Marley Sewage Works and Bingley South Bog in the same month. Loss of habitat is certainly a feature at the key 2002 site, and may be elsewhere, but the position clearly needs to be carefully monitored.
The first arrival, at Gallows Hill, Otley, on 23rd April was almost identical to last year, and the final sighting was on 11th September, a typical date. Within this period, May provided most of the sightings, the majority of which were in the south of the recording area, with only six originating in Wharfedale.
Evidence of breeding came from Elland Gravel Pits, Stockbridge, where a juvenile was seen on 17th July, and Gallows Hill, which had two young birds on 19th August.
GARDEN
WARBLER
Sylvia borin
Migrant breeder/ passage visitor.
The first arrival was at Marley Sewage Works on 16th April, the earliest for many years, and one of the earliest on record in the area. The main arrival was, however, in May, and that month produced over 70% of the year’s records, including singing males at a number of widespread locations, as well as the highest concentration of birds: seven along a one mile stretch of the River Washburn between Norwood Bottom and Dob Park Bridge.
No birds were seen on autumn migration, and the final record was a bird at St. Ives on the untypically early date of 16th July. Despite the strong representation of singing males, the only evidence of breeding consisted of food-carrying at Stockbridge on 19th June, and a pair feeding young at Elland Gravel Pits on 10th. Such apparent under-recording now seems to be a regular feature for the species.
A well-recorded species, with reports from 37 locations across the area. These included many records of singing males, including one that was performing in the centre of Bradford on 19th May.
A bird seen at Elland Gravel Pits on 19th March is likely to have over-wintered, and the first returning bird was probably one seen in Thornton on 3rd April. Within a week there was a significant arrival, followed, in the rest of the month and May, by reports of up to eight birds at St. Ives and six at Strid Wood, Harden Park, Elland Gravel Pits and Gallows Hill (Otley). Visible migration was focused mainly on the south of the area, and was fairly light, with probably no more than fifteen birds seen in total at Doe Park, Paul Clough and Denholme Clough. The last departures reported were four birds at the latter site on 19th September.
Winter records in the second period were limited to sightings of single birds at Otley Wetland on 10th November, and in a Bingley garden for at least a week from 21st December.
This is another species where the many reports of males on territory are not reflected in breeding records. Initially, mating was noted at Stockbridge, followed by food-carrying there and at Elland Gravel Pits, the lower Washburn Valley, and Burley. Juveniles (sometimes with adults) were also at Hallas Bridge, the Valley of Desolation, Gallows Hill and Ogden Water.
WOOD
WARBLER
Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Migrant breeder and occasional passage migrant.
Summer residents were seen at only four locations, Heber’s Ghyll, St. Ives, Dob Park Wood and Strid Wood, from where 50% of the records originated. The first bird was found there on the fairly typical date of 29th April, and the last resident was noted on 6th June at Dob Park. Unless, therefore, birds were overlooked after that date, the species was actively present in the area for less than six weeks, although this warbler can be elusive after breeding.
In general, numbers seemed to be considerably down, and even in the species’ stronghold of Strid Wood, no more than four birds could be found, compared with, for example, as many as eighteen there on a single day in May 2002. Future years will indicate whether this represents a sustained reduction.
This species is particularly scarce on migration, and garden records are even more so, making the report of a juvenile bird in a Low Moor garden on 14th August singularly notable (MVP).
The only confirmed breeding came from Dob Park Wood, where there were two pairs.
CHIFFCHAFF
Phylloscopus collibyta
Common migrant breeder and passage/winter visitor.
There were two records in the first winter period, a bird at Stockbridge in January, and one at High Royd Sewage Works on 27th February. Several reports in the second comprised two birds at Marley Sewage Works on 2nd November, one of which remained to the year-end, and singles at Shipley on 6th November and Otley Wetland on 28th December.
The first returning bird was at Knotford Nook on 19th March, followed by several more in the last days of the month, including the year’s maximum count of nine birds at St. Ives on 31st, a figure which was equalled there on 23rd April. This location proved to be the most prolific, but there were up to six birds at several other sites during the month, and in the three which followed.
There were probably at least 11 singing males in the Washburn Valley, though this is likely to be an understatement. Visible migration was noted mainly in the south of the area, although a party of six birds was observed working their way past John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir on 17th September, and around 48 birds were observed in total during this period. The final records were of three birds at Denholme Clough and two at Glovershaw on 2nd October.
Despite the number of singing males, there were few breeding reports. Adults with young were seen at St. Ives, and juveniles were noted at Knotford Nook, but a lot of breeding probably went unrecorded.
WILLOW
WARBLER
Phylloscopus trochilus
Common migrant breeder/passage visitor.
There were many records of this abundant summer visitor, the first of which was of a bird at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 26th March. Birds were then very evident throughout April and May, with singing males in a wide variety of habitats, including several moorland records.
At some locations up to ten birds were noted on a number of occasions, but the biggest numbers were seen once birds started to disperse after breeding, and on return migration. The year’s highest count was 22 on 23rd July at Denholme Clough, a place where big numbers have been recorded in the past, and up to sixteen birds were seen at a number of sites during this period, including Barden and Paul Clough. The main movement petered out on 15th September, with a garden record of a bird in Burley-in-Wharfedale.
As on many occasions in the past, breeding information was sparse, being limited to reports of young birds at St. Ives and Stockbridge. Clearly, this is totally unrepresentative of the species’ status in the area.
GOLDCREST
Regulus regulus
Resident breeder and passage/winter visitor.
Whilst reasonably well-reported during the autumn and winter months, when birds are relocating or over-wintering, only a handful of records were submitted for the four months from April, so it is unsurprising there was no breeding data.
In the first winter period, counts came from Barden Scale, where there was a flock of twenty birds on 13th January, and Thornton Moor Reservoir, which had 14 on 27th March. It was 18th September before double figures were seen again, when ten birds were recorded in the general area of Doe Park and Denholme Clough, and also on another three dates to 8th October. In the latter part of the year, a count of 12 was made at St. Ives on 17th November, and this had increased to 30 birds by the 26th. At least 12 birds were also seen in Shipley Glen on Boxing Day.
The remaining sightings were mainly in the low single figures, but with up to seven in November and December in the Barden area.