Common
Redstart |
Whinchat |
Stonechat |
COMMON
REDSTART
Phoenicurus phoenicurus.
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
The first returning bird was a male at Caldene Fields on 18th April, closely followed by a single at Strid Woods on 20th. This latter site is one of the strongholds, and a copious amount of records came from this general area. Many pairs are likely to have bred here but only evidence for two pairs was forthcoming, including a pair with young at Drebley.
The Washburn Valley
is another stronghold, and successful breeding at various locations, including
three pairs at Timble Ings, two pairs at Lindley Wood Reservoir and four
newly fledged youngsters at Beaverdyke Reservoir reflected this.
Autumn passage was light, with small numbers scattered throughout the
area. The last of the year was at Denholme Clough on 19th September.
WHINCHAT
Saxicola rubetra.
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
First to arrive was a single at Trough Lane, near Oxenhope, on 20th April. After this, birds were reported widely but thinly from mainly moorland locations. The moors of Burley, Barden and Bingley were mentioned, as were the reservoirs of Leeshaw and Thornton Moor, in addition to Snowden Crags.
Breeding was proved at White Wells, Norwood Lane and Cold Edge Dams.
Autumn movement included
up to seven at Cold Edge Dams in August, and eight in September, and up
to six at Nab Water Lane, Wilsden. In the former month, a single at Otley
Wetland was noteworthy. In September, various sites including Soil Hill
and Paul Clough had up to three birds, with the latest record emanating
from Thornton Moor Reservoir on 27th September.
COMMON
STONECHAT
Saxicola torquata
Increasingly common breeder and passage/winter visitor.
Reported from every month of the year, and now becoming a very widespread and frequent species. Regular wintering sites included Swinsty dam and Norwood Lane on the edge of Sandwith Moor.
A singing bird was noted on Catstone Moor, whilst breeding was proven on Barden Moor (two pairs), Denton Moor, Hawksworth Moor, Ilkley Moor, and Thornton Moor Reservoir, where it is probable a pair raised two broods.
The number of sites
recording this species is increasing by the year, and any open ground
can be attractive to passage birds. Most of the records tend to come from
the moorlands and their peripheries.
NORTHERN
WHEATEAR. Oenanthe oenanthe
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
The 17th March was the earliest date this year, when four were in fields near the Sun Inn at Norwood. Spring passage predictably peaked in late April and early May, and included parties of 10 at Leeshaw Reservoir, and Thornton Moor Reservoir, 18 at Trough Lane and six at Warley Moor Reservoir. Smaller numbers on passage occurred at a number of other widespread sites. Breeding definitely occurred at Warley Moor Reservoir and Cold Edge Dams.
Return passage congregations
peaked in August, with 18 at Thornton Moor Reservoir, 12 at both Warley
Moor Reservoir and Trough Lane, and 11 at Nab Water Lane.
RING
OUZEL
Turdus torquatus.
Increasingly uncommon migrant breeder and regular passage migrant.
The general downward trend continues, with only 15 records, and no indication of breeding. The earliest were three at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 2nd April, followed by one at Kex Gill on 12th. Further arrivals during the month and early May were then noted at Barden Scale, Leeshaw Reservoir, Barden Moor, Thornton Moor Reservoir, and Luddenden Dean, which had five birds on 23rd April, the year’s highest total.
Apart from a bird
at Paul Clough, the only autumn records came from Thornton Moor, where
the year’s final bird was seen on 21st October.
BLACKBIRD
Turdus merula
Very common resident breeder/winter visitor.
Still common throughout
the area, with no exceptional records received. In October, at least 25
were at Thornton Moor Reservoir, 26 at Denholme Clough and 60 at St Ives.
In December, 20 were at both Knotford Nook and Otley Wetland, and 30 were
at Timble Ings.
FIELDFARE
Turdus pilaris
Winter visitor and passage migrant.
The largest gatherings in the first winter period were 300 at Sandwith Moor on 2nd February, and 200 at Blubberhouses on 17th March, with 500 at Timble Ings on 27th. In April there were 500 over Barden on 14th and 270 at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 3rd. Last of the spring were seven at Sunnydale on 2nd May.
Exactly five months later, one was at Denholme Clough, heralding the coming winter. October then continued to produce significant numbers of birds, the most notable daily totals being:
Cold Edge Dams 1250
on 17th
Paul Clough 700 on 23rd
Sandwith Moor 2200 on 27th
Luddenden Dean 1000 on 29th
Thornton Moor Res 860 on 9th, 550 on 13th, 520 on 16th, 1900 on 17th,
580 on 19th, 750 on 21st, 3250 on 22nd, 1350 on 24th.
The latter site also had 2600 birds over on 14th November, but this was eclipsed by a massive 10000 birds roosting in Timble Ings and Sandwith Moor Plantation in the early part of the month. From then until the year end, numbers were smaller, but 550 were seen at Draughton, 470 at Embsay,and up to 500 at Thornton Moor and Luddenden Dean.
SONG
THRUSH
Turdus philomelos
Resident breeder/winter visitor.
Records emanated from many sites, and the scattering of breeding reports is not a true reflection of the status. Nest building was seen at Riddlesden and St Ives, whilst two pairs bred at both Denton and Beamsley.
Twenty-two at Denholme
Clough on 9th October was the highest total through the visible migration
watchpoints, and there were a further 13 at this site the following day.
REDWING
Turdus iliacus
Winter visitor and passage migrant.
The year started well with 100 at Bolton Abbey and 90 at Hag Farm, Burley in January. After this, the first winter period was fairly uneventful with the highest count 70 at Burley Woodhead on 3rd April. Three days later, the last two of the spring were recorded, with Fieldfares at Barden.
The first to return was one over Wilsden on 12th September, but significant numbers were not seen until October, when the first big flock was 2100 at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 8th. Birds continued to pour in over the following two days, with counts of 3500 and 1950 at this site, and 1700 and 2060 over Denholme Clough. By the month’s end, passage at Denholme Clough had fallen to 345, and the daily maximum at Thornton Moor was 690.
The beginning of November saw 3000 birds going to roost at Sandwith Moor Plantation on 4th, but from then until the year end the only three- figure counts were 150 at Hewenden on 29th December, and 400 at Luddenden Dean on 28th.
At Otley Wetland on
30th December, about 10 birds in a total flock of 60 showed characteristics
of the Icelandic race T.i.coburni
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MISTLE
THRUSH
Turdus viscivorus
Resident breeder and passage migrant.
Commonly reported
right across the area, with breeding being proved at many sites. Other
than 30 at Timble Ings on 28th December, autumn migration produced the
only substantial numbers. In October, 60 were at St.Ives on 30th, and
aggregations of 49, 50 and 88 passed Thornton Moor Reservoir on the first
three days.