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The degree of under-reporting of this species is best illustrated by comparison with its much scarcer congener, Tree Sparrow, which attracted six more general reports, and six more of breeding activity.

Of the twelve records submitted, ten relate to gardens, in Queensbury, Cullingworth, Baildon, Oxenhope and Undercliffe, where between three and ten birds were noted. The species is reported to be still common around Brown Bank Farm in the Washburn Valley. The maximum count was 60 birds at Redcar Tarn on 29th July.

Breeding success had just one report, an adult feeding young in an Allerton garden.

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

Whilst this species’ status in the Group’s area continues to be precarious, it is pleasing to report that birds were seen at previously unrecorded locations, and, particularly, that breeding success was the best for many years.

The absence of reports from the south of the area doubtless indicates a crash in the population that formerly existed in the Aire Valley, but nil returns from Spenborough may simply reflect a lack of records from this area generally.

The species’ main location continues to be Knotford Nook, but there were also reports from Leathley, Clifton, Farnley and Burley, where up to three birds attended a garden feeder in late March.

Breeding was recorded at all but the last of these. Five young were ringed from one brood at Knotford Nook, whilst another nest there was predated. Two broods of three were ringed at Leathley, and three broods, each comprising four birds, at Clifton. In addition, a family party including at least two young was seen in a roadside tree at Farnley. Thus, at least 25 birds were fledged: a situation that provides some hope for the future.

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

The extent of the under-recording of this common species is illustrated by the fact that almost two-thirds of the reports refer to birds on autumn migration, that only eight records cover the twelve weeks commencing 30th May, and that only one breeding record was forthcoming.

January and February had few records, but included a good total of over 100 birds flying to roost in Luddenden Dean on 27th February and 30 in Strid Wood on 23rd January. A male was heard in song as early as 2nd February at Barden Scale, but was clearly out of practice, as it struggled with the song’s trademark terminal flourish. The only sizeable flock in the next two months comprised 31 birds seen, surprisingly, in a Silsden garden on 16th April. There were also garden records around this time (the year’s only other such reports) of five birds at Baildon and Oakworth.

Autumn migration got underway at the beginning of September, and, during mainly this month and October, well over 2350 birds were counted at the key watch-points in the south of the area. This was in contrast to fairly light visible passage in the previous year. The relevant statistics are:

Thornton Moor Reservoir : a total of 1345 birds, including several days with three-figure counts, and a maximum of 150 on 26th and 28th October.

Denholme Clough : 336 in all, and a maximum of 103 on 2nd October.

Paul Clough : Birds recorded on only a few days, but very significant numbers. The total was 548, including the year’s highest count of 266 birds on 2nd October.

About 125 birds in total passed Cold Edge Dams. Only one record covered the whole of December, a reasonably-sized flock of 32 at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 1st.

The sole breeding record concerned a family party seen in St. Ives in July.

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

Following the generally low numbers seen at the end of 2004, the first winter period started off slowly, with only one record involving more than 20 birds, this being a flock of around 30 in Ovenden Wood on 8th January. Things picked up by early February, however, when about 80 birds were seen near Swinsty Reservoir on 8th, this number having increased to 100 by the 25th. Flocks of 30 birds were seen around the same period at Bolton Abbey, and at Fewston Reservoir on 31st March. Smaller numbers were recorded in Airedale, Strid Wood, the Washburn Valley and at Ogden. The final record of this period was a male in full breeding plumage in a Silsden garden on 17th April.

The first returning bird was seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 7th October, but this well-watched migration point produced few other sightings, and the biggest numbers during the month and the year were impressive totals of 250 flying to roost at Timble Ings on 22nd, and 195 (in small migrating flocks) at Paul Clough four days later.

Between then and the year-end, the counts were mainly of single figures at eight widespread locations. The exceptions were Caldene Fields, which had 32 birds passing through on 1st November, and the previously mentioned Silsden garden, where numbers gradually built up to ten by 27th December. Other garden records included a bird in Oxenhope in April, and two in Gilstead in early December, with four records of a single bird later in the month.

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

The species was not particularly well-recorded in 2005, but there were good numbers on migration, and some large aggregations elsewhere. Unfortunately, there was again a dearth of breeding information.

The first winter period had a good total of 60 birds at Marley Sewage Works on 15th January, and an especially notable count of 32 birds in an Oxenhope garden on 22nd February. Early song and display-flighting was noted in Queensbury on 30th January. This turned out to be the only example of such activity, and almost of breeding in general, as a report of young birds came only from St. Ives in July. Despite this, there is no reason to suppose any change in status.

The few records covering the summer months were notable only for another garden record (of seven birds seen regularly in Oakworth), and a good-sized flock of 60 birds near Silsden on 5th August. Very quickly, migration watches took over, and in September and October around 1140 birds were logged at the principal sites. On 2nd October there was a particularly large passage, and 112 birds were recorded at Denholme Clough, 109 at Cold Edge Dams and 144 at Thornton Moor. The following day a locally big flock of 68 birds was seen at Leeshaw.

Only four records covered the whole of December, but quality prevailed, with an excellent total of 200 birds roosting near Weecher Reservoir on 10th, and another good garden total of 25 birds from Silsden.

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

This species continues to be well-recorded, and numbers appear to be up on several disappointing recent years, although it showed be stressed that the majority of records and numbers relate to visible-migration watches.

There were very few reports of birds during the winter months, a party of 25 at Otley Wetland in February being comfortably the highest. Similarly, only 29 records were received covering the period between 1st April and 29th August, with mainly single-figure counts, and a maximum of about 30 at Glovershaw in mid-August.

From 1st September to 5th November, there were many reports from the main visible-migration watch-points in the south of the area. At Thornton Moor Reservoir, around 940 birds were counted during this period, with double figures on numerous dates, and a maximum tally of 146 on 9th October. Nearby Denholme Clough produced a total of 250 birds and a highest daily count of 57. Smaller numbers were seen at Cold Edge Dams and Paul Clough. During this same period, there was a noteworthy count of more than 100 birds at Tong Park Reservoir on 7th September, the highest single flock seen during the year.

The species continues to take advantage of garden feeders, though records came only from Baildon, Oakworth and Silsden. The absence of breeding data, or even of sightings of juvenile birds, probably indicates under-recording rather than a drop in the species’ local status.

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

Generally a better year than 2004, with bigger numbers in the first winter period, considerably better counts on visible-migration, and a probable breeding record. Surprisingly, there were no garden records.

In the first three months of the year, birds were recorded at Timble Ings, Otley Wetland, the reservoirs at Thornton Moor, Fewston, and Lindley Wood, plus St. Ives, the Barden area, and a private woodland. St. Ives had a respectable total of thirty birds in February, but the biggest numbers came from Barden, where between twenty and 150 birds were seen between mid-January and the middle of February, the highest daily total being seen on the 11th of that month. A party of thirty birds seen near Denton on 3rd April were probably dispersing.

The second winter period was comparatively quiet, and the only notable counts were up to 40 birds at Otley Wetland in November and December, 25 at Fewston, and twenty at the unusual location of Saltaire. Smaller numbers were seen at Knotford Nook and Barden.

Autumn migration was first noted on 2nd September, and progressed to 28th October. The figures for the established watch-points were :
Paul Clough : 166 (maximum of 63 on 2nd October)
Denholme Clough : 241 (maximum of 71 on 2nd October)
Thornton Moor : 339 (maximum of 56 on 11th October)

It is pleasing to report that breeding almost certainly occurred at Timble Ings, as a bird was seen carrying food there on 7th June, and there was another summer record : a bird at Buck Park on 23rd July.

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

This continues to be a well-recorded species, but most reports are from the south of the area, particularly in the post-breeding and autumn migration periods, from which over half of the records originate and during which the biggest numbers of birds were seen. There were no winter period records, and all sightings came between mid-March and the end of October.

In contrast with 2004, there were only a few double-figure counts in the first six months, and these were of fairly modest size, comfortably the highest being 23 birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 2nd May. There was no significant build-up of numbers until July. At Barden on the 8th a flock of 35 were seemingly surrounding a Kestrel perched on the same wires, and some 50 birds were seen on the 24th at Faweather, near Weecher Reservoir.

From the end of July, it is clear from the reports that virtually all refer to birds on autumn movement, which was recorded on 60 dates, amassing a probable total of up to 750 birds. Flocks of 60 were seen at Soil Hill and Doe Park in September and 50 in the same month at Roils Head. There were also 50 at the first site in July, and several other parties of about 30 birds here and at Doe Park, together with Denholme Clough and Thornton Moor.

Breeding activity was either almost totally absent, or not reported. The only records were of birds nest-building near Lindley and a bird seen food-carrying at Leeshaw Reservoir.

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

That the Group now receives a good number of records of this species is due largely to the provision of seed at a number of feeding areas. As might be expected, all the 53 records came from the south of the area. Significant numbers of birds were involved, but it is impossible to estimate the overall total, given that most of the records came in a few concentrated periods, when the same birds were probably feeding up before moving on.

Nearly all the reports came from three main locations summarised below:

Leeshaw : Birds were seen between 7th March and 4th May, with sightings picking up again between 6th June and 21st July. Most records relate to late March and April, and involved between two and twelve birds, the maximum number being seen on 10th April. A late record involved fourteen birds on 29th August.

Luddenden Dean : Between two and nine birds were noted in the period 27th February to 27th March, with single sightings in April, May and August, and a sizeable party of 23 on the 25th of that month.

Warley Moor Reservoir : As with Leeshaw, most records came from April, when birds were presumably on migration. Generally, only twos and threes were involved, but there were good counts of 20 on 17th April, and 27 (the year’s maximum) on 23rd.

Away from here, there were a few records, mainly in single figures, from Cold Edge Dams, Ogden, Thornton Moor Reservoir and Soil Hill, although Thornton Moor had twelve birds on 20th March, and Soil Hill ten on 19th October.

Several birds were seen wearing colour-rings. In only one case could the colour combinations be identified. The bird was proved to have been ringed in Lancashire in April 2003, and it is probable most of the birds originated from this area.

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.

A distinctly better year than 2004, particularly in the first winter period and in spring, though, as with many of our species, visible-migration records were predominant.

January and February produced records from ten locations, with flocks of 30 birds being noted at Sunnydale Reservoir and St. Ives, 40 in the lower part of the Washburn Valley, and 50 at Ovenden Wood. Good numbers continued to be recorded in April and May, including up to 60 birds at St. Ives and twenty at Timble Ings. During this period singing birds were noted at Timble, Sword Point Plantation and Roils Head, but there was no suggestion of successful breeding. In the second winter period there were only a handful of records, and a best count of ten birds at Otley Wetland.

Thornton Moor Reservoir recorded around the same total on autumn migration as the previous year, 79, with a daily high of 31, and Denholme Clough’s tally of 80 was almost identical, but with a higher daily count of 44. In contrast, there were few reports from Paul Clough, but the year’s highest daily count of 150 birds came from there on 2nd October.

COMMON REDPOLL Carduelis flammea
Erratic winter visitor/ passage migrant

Despite the name, an uncommon redpoll, so the discovery of three of these birds with Lesser Redpoll at St. Ives on 26th February was very welcome (MD). As with previous records, the birds concerned were of the race C. f. flammea (Mealy Redpoll).

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

As in 2004, there were no big influxes, and only one record in the first six months: four birds at Timble Ings on 15th January. Several small parties were heard there in August, and 12 birds were seen from the Barden Scale watch-point on 25th July.

Most of the September sightings came from Timble and nearby Beecroft Moor Plantation, and again comprised small parties, but there was a rare record from Beaver Dyke Reservoir, where six birds were seen on 17th. St. Ives also had a bird on the 24th.

The following month had the highest counts, comprising twelve birds at Timble Ings on 22nd, and fifteen there the following day. After that, there were only four records: six birds near Swinsty Reservoir on 9th November, and, at St. Ives, one 17 days later, another on 24th December and three on Boxing Day.

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

This species again produced a good number of records, representing every month, and throughout the area, but with rather more from the south, particularly in the post-breeding period.

In the first three months of the year there were several counts of between five and eight birds, and a maximum of ten at Elland Gravel Pits on 23rd January. There were then generally just ones and twos during the summer months, until post-breeding dispersal commenced around the end of July. From that point to the final days of October there was an upsurge in numbers, with many sightings of between three and eight birds, particularly at the well-watched migration points at Denholme Clough and Paul Clough. The year’s highest total, however, came from Esholt Sewage Works, where 25 birds were present on 15th October.

This species seems attracted to gardens, with increasing regularity, and there were such reports from Low Moor, Ilkley, Baildon, Gilstead, Silsden, Bingley and Oxenhope. At the latter, there was a bonus of the birds breeding there. Breeding also occurred at Northowram, where a nest containing five young was found; otherwise sightings were limited to a family party at Stockbridge Nature Reserve, and a pair with three young in Menston.

HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustres
Rare visitor, mainly in winter, possible breeder.

A bird seen at the edge of Timble Ings on 1st, 5th and 21st January was clearly one of the two that had been present there at the end of December, 2004 (PRo et al).