2003 Report

2004 Report

2005 Report

LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalus caudatus
Common resident breeder.

With 225 records, this was an extremely well-reported species, although only 10% of them related to the months of June, July and August. There were more double-figure counts than for several years, and the best of the 41 such reports was of 27 birds, presumably on autumn migration, in Denholme Clough on 21st October, and 20 birds were seen at Otley Wetland, Timble Ings, Dob Park, Bull Coppy Wood and Shibden Head.

Garden records also figured more predominantly than in 2005, and came from Ben Rhydding (where birds were regular), Otley, Gilstead and Cononley, which had good counts of 16 birds in November and December. Autumn visible migration reports appeared to be limited to Denholme Clough, already mentioned, and Paul Clough, where a seasonal total of 41 birds was logged.

Breeding was evident in Shipley Glen, St. Ives, Gallows Hill, Baildon Bank, Goit Stock and Otley Wetland, but juveniles with adults were seen at only the last four locations. Unaccompanied young birds were also noted at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits and near Otley.

WILLOW TIT Parus Montanus
Scarce and decreasing resident

There were three authenticated records of this increasingly rare bird locally, and a further two which were not, unfortunately, supported by a description.

In March, a bird was seen at Lindley Wood Reservoir on the 4th, and exactly four months later the same observer caught and ringed a bird at Otley Wetland (AJ). After five weeks, the final bird was discovered in a feeding party with other tit species at Haverah Park on 8th September (SR, PCK).

MARSH TIT Parus palustris
Scarce and decreasing resident

Just one record, albeit of two birds, illustrates just how scarce the species has become. The location, Strid Wood, and the finder are the same as in 2005, and the birds were observed on 3rd January (CS).

COAL TIT Parus ater.
Resident breeder.

It is pleasing to report that the species has been considerably better-reported this year, which confirms its status as a common resident across the area. Up to six birds were seen on several occasions, and there were particularly good totals of 15 birds at St. Ives in mid-January, and only one less in Strid Wood in May. Garden records featured more prominently than of late, and came from Otley, Baildon, Oakworth, Ben Rhydding and Riddlesden. Visible migration watches yielded meagre returns, however, with the only report being of six birds at Paul Clough in September.

In keeping with the general theme, there was reasonable evidence of breeding success. Juvenile birds were seen in all the above gardens but Riddlesden, and a pair used a nest-box at Howgill Wood, raising eight young.

BLUE TIT Parus caeruleus

Abundant resident breeder.

As with many other common species, the diligence of the same single observer (ES) gives the records a degree of respectability, as he was responsible for 94 of the 119 submissions. Clearly the species is still abundant and widespread, though, aside from breeding records, the maximum count was 30 birds in Strid Wood in May, with up to 18 birds being seen between September and December in the Otley and Ilkley areas, and at Paul Clough in early September. These were clearly on the move, as possibly were three birds on Soil Hill in October.

On the more positive side, successful breeding was well-recorded, thanks in the main to the monitoring of woodland nest-boxes (PRo, MD). The main locations produced the following tallies:

In addition, five young were ringed at Menston, ten at Clifton, and 13 at Norwood Bottom. At St. Ives, another site where boxes are provided, 35 of these were in use, but the success outcome was not established. Breeding was also observed at Knotford Nook, Goit Stock, Gallows Hill, Howgill Wood, and in or near gardens in Baildon, Otley and Ben Rhydding.

GREAT TIT Parus major.

Abundant resident breeder.

The comments under this heading are almost a replay of the previous species: the same contributor submitted 84% of the general records and another contributed almost all the breeding information. Based on this last data alone it can be safely assumed the species remains abundant, though just how many pairs are using natural nest-sites remains an unanswered question.

Song was heard as early as 4th January and as late as 6th December, and birds were reported from gardens in Otley, Oakworth and Baildon, and bred in the last two. Breeding activity was also noted at St, Ives, where a pair used a natural hole as well as a nest-box, but the main thrust of this information came, as usual, from the results of birds breeding in boxes, as follows:

In addition, many birds were reported from Pool Paper Mills at the end of May, but no breeding results were indicated.

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WOOD NUTHATCH Sitta europaea.
Resident breeder.

This species has always been well-recorded from such core areas as Strid Wood and St. Ives, but there are now increasing numbers of records from across the area, and breeding reports are being maintained at around ten.

There were about 140 records in total, representing 39 locations, which included several from the Washburn Valley (where until quite recently birds have been very scarce), an increasing number from gardens, and from places which have featured little, if at all, in previous Reports.

In the Washburn, birds were seen near Lindley Bridge, and at Dob Park Wood, Farnley, Swinsty, Folly Hall Wood, Norwood Bottom, and a private location. Elsewhere, Devonshire Park near the centre of Keighley featured for the first time, as did the Worth Valley, near Oxenhope, where the observer hadn’t seen birds in the previous 30 years. The much-mentioned Ben Rhydding garden hosted birds other than in the summer months, having a maximum of two, which number was also seen in two gardens in Baildon, and one in Silsden, and single birds visited Bingley and Gilstead gardens on a few occasions.

Strid Wood produced an excellent count of nine birds, the year’s highest, on 29th April, a maximum of seven were seen in St. Ives, and six birds were reported from Shipley Glen and Windhill, the latter being another previously unfeatured site, and providing an indication of just what can be found in the suburbs. There were also said to be many birds present in Middleton Woods.

The extent of breeding in Strid Wood didn’t reflect the above count, though a pair was discovered using a nest-box, but several juveniles were seen at St. Ives, and, also in the Aire Valley, up to three pairs raised young in Shipley Glen, and adults were feeding offspring in Hirst Wood. Elsewhere, birds were said to have had a good year at Denton, many were reported to have bred at a private woodland, and breeding took place at Norwood Bottom and Nell Bank.

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EURASIAN TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris.
Resident breeder.

The assumption in the 2005 Report of under-recording certainly doesn’t apply this year, as 40 locations were represented in the 115 reports received. Birds were present throughout the year, though with only a handful of records for the summer months, and were usually seen in ones and twos. Six birds at Dob Park in spring was the highest site total. Sightings of this species in gardens are most unusual, so one such in Bingley in early February was particularly notable.

Signs of breeding activity were also better-documented than last year. In spring, nest-building was observed at Fewston and Shipley Glen, and breeding pairs were seen there, and at Strid Wood, Folly Hall Wood, Dob Park and Nell Bank.

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