News

Again under-recorded with records coming from various gardens and villages. The only comment on status was that 80 birds at Caldene Fields on 29th October was a decrease in numbers for this site.

TREE SPARROW Passer montanus
Resident breeder: woodland, hedgerows, parkland and farmland

This species locally is in very serious decline. The only regular site was Knotford Nook where birds were seen throughout the year, breeding was confirmed and where a maximum of five birds was counted. Breeding was aided by the provision of nest boxes.

The only record away from here was a single at Thruscross Dam on 11th October. It is a gloomy outlook for this once common species.

CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs
Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor: woodland, parkland, hedgerows, farmland and suburbs.

Commonly reported throughout the year with multiple breeding records being submitted. No really large gatherings this year with 100 at Fewston Reservoir on 20th December and 80 at Whitefield Farm being the best records.

Passage in the autumn peaked at 203 at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 20th September, with 150 at Paul Clough and 252 at Thornton Moor the following day. Full details are in the “vismig” summary at the end of the report.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla
Passage/winter visitor: woodland, parkland and farmland.

The year started well with 120 at Whitefield Farm on New Years Day with further large groups comprising of 100 at Riddlesden in March 65 at Stockbridge in January and 70 on Otley Chevin in March. The last of the spring records were two in a Burley garden site on 23rd April.

The first to return were eleven at Denholme Clough on 12th October with records then coming from many sites to the year-end. High counts included 125 at Marley in November and 150 at Beaverdyke and 100 at Fewston in December.

GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor: woodland, parkland, farmland and gardens.

No reason to suspect any change in status of the common and widespread bird. The highest counts concerned 62 birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir in September and 68 birds at Denholme Clough in October.

GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis.
Resident breeder/migrant and passage visitor: a wide range of timbered habitats, including suburbs.

Not many reports received this year regardless of its common status. The best gatherings included 41 at Paul Clough in July 60, at Slippery Ford in September and 120 at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 25th August.

SISKIN Carduelis spinus
Scarce resident/possible breeder, common passage and winter visitor: mainly coniferous woodlands.

Unfortunately there were no breeding records this year, although it almost certainly took place in some of the larger coniferous forests such as Beecroft Moor Plantation and Timble Ings. Many sites, for example Otley Gravel Pits and St Ives, held flocks of up to 50 birds. Both Elland Gravel Pits and Barden managed 70 birds each while 115 were noted at West End in February. One observer had 120 birds at Lindley Wood Reservoir in December and another had literally “hundreds” at the same site during February.

LINNET Carduelis cannabina.
Resident breeder and passage migrant: farmland, moorland, wasteland and open areas.

There was a good selection of records for this attractive finch. Double figure counts were recorded from many sites, with the highest being 40 at Timble Ings and Keelham and 70 birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir. These were easily eclipsed however by 300 birds at Sunnydale Reservoir on 12th April. Breeding was attempted but failed at Stockbridge.

TWITE Carduelis flavirostris
Rather uncommon and local migrant breeder/passage migrant: moorland and adjacent areas.

A worrying set of records with no party larger than thirteen being seen and no confirmed breeding records. Leeshaw Reservoir remains the group’s stronghold for this species with birds regularly noted here from March until July, no doubt attracted to some degree to the feeding scheme directed towards them. This initiative by HBC at Cold Edge Dams rewarded observers with thirteen during November and December, but only one had been seen in the spring.

Elsewhere, three birds were at Elland Gravel Pits on 28th January and the same number were at Bradup on 9th March. During April two were observed at Silsden with a single bird on Penistone Hill. Another three were at Luddenden Dean on 10th May.
Autumn records concerned one bird on Denton Moor on 11th October with singles at Soil Hill on the same date and also on 18th November.

LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis caberet (formerly known as Common Redpoll: Carduelis flammea caberet, but now given full specific status by the BOU).

Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor: mainly woodland and adjacent areas.

Recorded in every month of the year but usually in small numbers. The highest counts were disappointing with 40 birds at Barden in March and 40 also at Otley Gravel Pits in December. Breeding was noted at Otley Gravel Pits and Kex Gill Quarry.

COMMON REDPOLL Carduelis flammea (formerly treated as the northern race of Common Redpoll known as Mealy Redpoll, Carduelis flammea flammea, but now given full specific status by the BOU).
Uncommon and erratic winter visitor, but often in large numbers when present: coniferous woodland and stands of alders.

The only record concerned six birds seen feeding in alders with Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin by the small pool on the northern edge of Sandwith Moor Plantation on 21st December (AJ, RS).

COMMON CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra
Passage/winter visitor, and occasional summer resident and breeder: mainly in coniferous woodland.

January started the year off well with double figure counts coming from Norwood Edge (20), St Ives (15), Barden (26) and Swinsty (50). Up to 50 were seen regularly at Timble Ings from the start of the year with 20 still in the area on 28th March and 50 still in May. At least two males were singing at Timble and it is highly likely that breeding was attempted there. April featured with a handful of single figure counts and about 50 were around Barden on 21st May.

Crossbills are often seen/heard on visible migration watches and this year six were seen over Doe Park Reservoir on 20th July. Apart from thirteen birds at Norwood Edge Plantation in August and 20 at Timble Ings in October there were only single figure counts noted at most of the above sites until the year end.

BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Resident breeder: woodland, farmland, scrub and gardens.

A widespread species in the area and with many records received this year from a wide selection of locations. Usually encountered in pairs or groups of less than half a dozen. Up to 10 were seen at Paul Clough in September and Denholme Clough regularly held double figures with a peak of 16 on 12th October. This species is not overt to visiting gardens which was evidenced by four pairs regularly being seen in a garden in Ben Rhydding.

Breeding was only proven at Esholt this year.