Black
Redstart |
Common
Redstart |
Whinchat |
Stonechat |
BLACK
REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
Scarce and irregular passage migrant. Former breeder
Recorded for the second successive year, a bird was present at Thornton Moor Reservoir for a few hours on 4th August (KM, BV). Reports of another bird later in the year were, unfortunately, not supported by a description.
COMMON
REDSTART
Phoenicurus phoenicurus.
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
This is another species where the number of reports and birds are significantly up on 2005, and where a reasonable amount of breeding data was received. The 58 reports represent an improvement of more than 50% on last year, and it is likely 50 adult birds were seen, more in line with expectations for a relatively common summer visitor.
The first bird, a singing male at Weston Park, Otley, on 31st March, was exceptionally early, and only one day later than the earliest on record. No further birds were seen until 16th April, and a relatively small number were then recorded in the middle of May, exclusively in the northern sector of the Group area, and included several other singing males.
There were also relatively few sightings in the following two months, but the first breeding records were established: pairs clearly with nest-bound young near Strid Wood and Timble Ings, and three juveniles with their parents at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir. Another party of adults and young at John o’ Gaunt’s in August were clearly different, and elsewhere, breeding was proved at Norwood Bottom and Dob Park. The summer months also had the year’s highest day count, of ten birds in the area around John o’ Gaunt’s and Beaverdyke Reservoirs, clearly a local stronghold for this species.
Post-breeding dispersal, and subsequent migration, became evident from mid-July, and, with the exception of a few late stragglers, went on for about six weeks. About 23 different birds were seen, but, for once, the usual watchpoints in the south didn’t predominate, as the best seasonal total of nine birds (and day count of five, on 25th August) came from Draughton Heights. This seems to be a fairly recently-discovered migration spot, which has turned up some good records in 2006, and will presumably do so in future years. The year’s final sighting was at Thornton Moor Reservoir on the notably late date of 29th September.
WHINCHAT
Saxicola rubetra.
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
The 76 records submitted for this species in 2006 represents the best total in recent years, and the 22 locations involved are also up, though whether this represents an upturn in the bird’s status as a summer resident in the area is open to question. This doubt is prompted by the fact that after the first arrival, on 9th May at Thornton Moor Reservoir, there were only two more records during that month, and only a further five to the end of July, probably involving no more than seven birds.
With only three exceptions, the remaining records covered the months of August and September, and, whilst some juveniles and family parties were involved, the likelihood must be that, in the absence of noted breeding activity in the preceding months, most records related to visible migration. Allowing for possible duplication, it is likely up to 75 birds were seen in this period, most of them in the south of the area, and including an impressive total of 16 seen moving west at Draughton Heights on 25th August. The three exceptions mentioned above were birds seen in October, not a regular month for the species, and were particularly notable in establishing the latest on record, at Cononley on the 26th (MSm), only to be surpassed two days later by two birds at Coney Warren (JLT).
As indicated, the question of local breeding is somewhat clouded by the fact that obvious migration was underway by the time the first juveniles and family parties were seen. These records consisted of up to six adults and young at Bradup in August, at least five at Glovershaw in the latter part of that month and early September, and a family party at about the same time in Oxenhope. Elsewhere, the behaviour of a single bird on Haworth Moor in July was suggestive of breeding in the area.
COMMON
STONECHAT
Saxicola torquata
Increasingly common breeder and passage/winter visitor.
This is another species where comparison with the Group’s first Report illustrates the considerable expansion which has taken place in 20 years. In 1987, there were just two records of ‘this scarce Yorkshire bird’. In 2006, there were 230 records, probably nearly as many birds, and evidence that Stonechat is now a well-established local breeder.
Records came from 39 locations, the majority of them in the south, and a particularly large number from the well-watched areas bordering Baildon Moor, and the moors to the south of Oxenhope. The first six months of the year brought only 25% of the records, and most observations were of birds on territory and ones either dispersing after breeding or on active migration. It was noticeable that the second winter period produced nearly three times as many records as the first, indicating, perhaps, that birds move away quickly from their wintering areas prior to breeding.
Between two and seven birds were seen together or in the same vicinity on no less than 140 occasions, and there were particularly good counts at Draughton Heights, where what were clearly migrating parties of 10 and 11 were seen on 8th and 25th August, at Glovershaw, which had 12 birds in the same period, and the fringes of Oxenhope Moor, which had between ten and 12 birds in early October. Making due allowance for resident and semi-resident birds seen on several occasions, the likelihood is that around 200 different birds were seen in the Group area over the course of the year.
Whilst breeding activity doesn’t seem to have increased in proportion to these numbers, it is evident from the records that at least 13 pairs were successful, fledging a minimum of 30 young. Reports came from Soil Hill, Barden Moor, Noska Brow, Hawksworth Moor, and from what now appears to be the breeding stronghold, the fringes of Baildon Moor.
NORTHERN
WHEATEAR. Oenanthe oenanthe
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.
With around 280 records, this is the Group’s best-reported passerine, which is remarkable considering that birds were present in only seven months of the year, and that fewer than 25 observers were involved.
Previous Reports have alluded to the considerable numbers seen on migration, and this pattern prevailed again in 2006, assisted by the greater coverage of areas additional to the birds’ strongholds in the south, and by the apparent interest of more observers. Compared with the previous year, the spring total was about 25% down, but this was offset by a series of particularly good counts during the autumn passage period.
The first returning bird was found at Whetstone Gate on 23rd March, following which birds were regularly recorded throughout April, and to a lesser extent in May, although this month produced the year’s highest count of 26 at Trough Lane, Oxenhope, on the 3rd, following a similar count of 22 there on 18th April. In the same period, there were ten other double-figure site counts, mainly from the same location, of between ten and 18 birds. Providing a reliable estimate of the total numbers seen is, of course, impossible, but is made easier in spring by the tendency of birds to move on fairly quickly, with many being proved to pass through a site within the day. On this basis, it is probable the spring total was around 460 birds.
After the spring surge, only five birds were seen in the whole of June and July, but autumn return passage was clearly underway by the beginning of August, and continued on a large scale until 18th October, when the final bird was seen near Timble Ings. In contrast with the spring movement, there is evidence that some of the birds seen in autumn can stay around the same spot for several days, so arriving at realistic totals is made even more difficult. However, even after taking account of some double-counting, it is likely the autumn movement through the area produced between 350 and 410 birds. Once again, the southern sector had the majority of them, with particularly notable counts of 18 at Trough Lane on 5th September, 19 at Warley Moor Reservoir on 15th August, and with six other site day counts of between 12 and 14.
Two reports of birds showing the characteristics of the race O.o.leucorhoa (Greenland Wheatear) were backed up by the required descriptions; unfortunately several others were not. The accepted records were individuals at Trough Lane on the rather early date of 19th April (KM), and at the same location on 30th September (BV).
Given the lack of summer records, the absence of definite breeding data is unsurprising, though the behaviour of a female seen near Lower Barden Reservoir in July caused suspicion of breeding in the area, and one observer considered it possible a pair might have bred on the fringes of Burley Moor.
RING
OUZEL
Turdus torquatus.
Increasingly uncommon migrant breeder and regular passage migrant.
For a bird which is in decline in the area, the 2006 records actually stand up quite well when compared with those in the Group’s initial Report in 1987. This year produced 17 records and a total of around 24 birds, whereas 20 years ago there were 12 records and 15 birds. The main and significant difference, however, lies in there now being no breeding records, when in 1987 three breeding pairs were located.
All this year’s reports were of migrating birds, and were almost exclusively confined to the months of April and September. In spring, singles were seen between 3rd and 18th April at Coney Warren, Soil Hill, Hey Slack Allotment, Burley Moor and Thornton Moor Reservoir, where a pair were present on the 27th and 29th. This same period produced the year’s highest count, and the best for some time: seven birds on Barden Fell on the 15th.
Return passage commenced in mid-August, with a bird at Thornton Moor on the 18th, and singles moved through Paul Clough in September on the 4th, 9th, and 30th, with two there on the 25th. There was a further Thornton Moor record on 14th October, and the southern sector’s autumn monopoly was completed by the final bird at Warley Moor Reservoir on the 22nd.
BLACKBIRD
Turdus merula
Very common resident breeder/winter visitor.
Much better-recorded than in 2005, though 70% of the records came from a single observer. The best of the double-figure counts were 16 birds at Gallows Hill, Otley, in August, and 18 there in July, whilst there were several counts of ten birds, and eleven roosting in Kildwick in November. Birds showing characteristics of the Continental race were seen at Baildon in October.
Song was heard at Knotford Nook as early as January 4th, and breeding data was well up on 2005, though this was again clearly under-recorded. Evidence of breeding came from nine locations in Wharfedale, and four in the south of the area, including gardens in Baildon, Thornton and Oakworth. The most unconventional site was an electricity box at Knotford Nook.
FIELDFARE
Turdus pilaris
Winter visitor and passage migrant.
Though well-reported in the first four months of the year, numbers were generally down. Of 17 flocks exceeding 100 birds, the biggest were 300 at Glovershaw in January and Farnhill Ings in March, 600 over Thornton Moor Reservoir around the same period, and a minimum of 1000 birds at Sandwith Moor on 7th April, presumably preparing to move out. Few big numbers were seen after that date, and the period’s final sighting was three birds passing Doe Park Reservoir on the 30th. March produced a scarce garden record for the species, when up to ten birds were seen in one in Ben Rhydding on the 12th.
The first returning birds weren’t seen until 12th October, notably later than average, at Cononley, and the winter influx didn’t really get going until the end of the month, with most records being produced in the 11 day period between 27th October and 6th November. The total movement, including a few records to the end of November, involved around 10,000 birds, in line with last year, but it was noticeable that reports of the larger movements were more widespread than usual, and the traditional watchpoints featured to a smaller extent.
By way of illustration, the season’s best day totals, both of 1500 birds, came from Queensbury, where at least this number flew over on 27th October, and Cononley Ings five days later. The first of these dates also produced 770 birds at Paul Clough, and the remaining big counts came in the first few days of November, with 500 at Barden Scale on the 1st, 860 over Paul Clough the following day, and around the same number past Thornton Moor two days after that.
Like last year, December was fairly quiet once birds had moved through, and numbers were even lower than in 2005, with only three notable counts at the end of December: 100 at Swinsty and Eldwick Reservoir, and 200 at Stockbridge.
SONG
THRUSH
Turdus philomelos
Resident breeder/winter visitor.
This bird lived up to its name as early as 14th January, when one was in song in a Ben Rhydding garden for three hours, virtually non-stop. It, or another, picked up where it left off at the opposite end of the year, as song was again heard in the same garden on 9th December, between which dates birds had been seen in six other months. In general, song was heard marginally earlier than last year, and continued at several locations until the end of April, and then picked up again for about a month at the end of June. The greatest early activity came from the lower Washburn Valley, where six birds were heard on 13th February.
In comparison, breeding activity was not as well-reported. Success was proved at Denton, Howgill, Pool Paper Mills, Nell Bank, and Thornton, where young were heard in a garden nest in mid-June, and there could have been two broods there, as food-carrying had been observed two months earlier. Aside from the two already mentioned, birds also visited gardens in Baildon and Otley.
This is not a species seen in big numbers on migration, and the autumn total of 59 birds was in line with expectations. Of the two watchpoints involved, Paul Clough recorded 12 birds, and Denholme Clough 47, including the year’s highest count of 20 on 25th September.
REDWING
Turdus iliacus
Winter visitor and passage migrant.
Numbers of birds in the first winter period were considerably down on 2005. There were no three-figure flocks, and only four numbering more than 50 birds, the largest of which comprised 85 in Shipley Glen on 9th January. However, a flock of 60 birds in St. Ives on the 21st, distinguished themselves by being in song, as had birds at the same location a year earlier. The final record for this period was of 20 birds at Allerton Flash on 26th March, a notably early date.
Equally notable were the first returning birds just over five months later, as the two seen over Caldene Fields on 9th September were the third earliest on record. Not surprisingly, there was then a long gap until the next birds were seen, at Marley Hall Farm on the 23rd, and there was a further two week lull before the next sighting, and big numbers didn’t really materialise until the last ten days in October.
Most birds seemed to arrive in that month, with only a few observations of obvious migration in the first few days of November. Between 7th October and 5th November over 9900 birds were counted, comparable to the previous year, though this specific figure is clearly an understatement, as a major movement numbering unspecified thousands of birds was witnessed at Baildon Bank on 27th October. This was a day of considerable movement throughout the south of the area, as 2800 birds passed Paul Clough, and 200 were seen over Oxenhope on, it should be noted, a weekday, when other visible migration watchpoints were not covered.
The highest daily aggregate was, however, on the 21st, when 3800 birds were logged, comprising 720 at Caldene Fields, 1080 at Denholme Clough and 2000 at Thornton Moor Reservoir. This was Denholme Clough’s only recorded count, but Thornton Moor also produced a three-figure tally of 560, and a seasonal total of 2650, whilst at Caldene, 2250 birds were seen in all, and there were other three-figure counts of between 165 and 590. After the main movements, things quietened down considerably, and in the final two months there were only two counts approaching these, comprising a roost of 220 at Kildwick on 8th November, and 100 at Baildon on the last day of the year.
Last year’s Report commented on the scarcity of Redwing as a garden visitor, but in 2006 there were four reports. Three came from Oakworth in January, when up to 18 birds were seen, and there were two in Ben Rhydding at the end of December.
MISTLE
THRUSH
Turdus viscivorus
Resident breeder and passage migrant.
Altogether better-recorded than last year, with some good-sized parties noted, and there was a particularly welcome volume and spread of breeding information.
In contrast to 2005, both winter periods produced a good number of records, 37 in all, and whilst generally reports were of not more than three birds, up to eight were seen on a few occasions, and 19 were in Shipley Glen on 9th February. As usual, the biggest numbers referred to post-breeding and migratory flocks, of which 19 double-figure counts were made. Four of these exceeded 30 birds, comprising 38 and 50 at Barden Scale in early September, 44 over Denholme Clough late in the month, and 40 at Sconce Lane at the end of August.
It can be assumed that most, if not all, of the birds seen between mid-August and the end of October were relocating, and, allowing for the possibility of some double-counting, between 400 and 440 birds were noted in this period. The usual migration watchpoints in the south figured well in this, producing totals of 39 for Caldene Fields, 49 at both Paul Clough and Thornton Moor Reservoir, and 106 in the general area of Denholme Clough, in addition to the other locations’ totals in the preceding paragraph.
Mistle Thrush is usually one of the earliest singers, and a bird heard at Barden on 3rd January was the first of 12 such reports up to the middle of February. However, technically the earliest (of the following season) was a bird singing in Strid Wood on 9th December, with another in Buttershaw, and the last one on Boxing Day in an Otley garden.
Successful breeding, or behaviour suggestive of it, was reported from Barden, Shipley Glen, Strid Wood, Leeshaw, St. Ives, Glovershaw, Dob Park, Denton, Howgill Wood, Nell Bank and Knotford Nook, with at least 14 pairs involved.