Snow
Bunting |
Yellowhammer |
Reed
Bunting |
SNOW
BUNTING
Plectrophenax nivalis
Infrequent passage/winter visitor: moorland and adjacent areas. Recorded
in every year except 1990 and 1992.
Single birds were noted at Soil Hill near Raggalds, Queensbury on 6th, 10th, 11th, 15th, 24th & 25th November (KM et al). A lone bird was reported from Rocky Valley, Ilkley Moor on 23rd November (CJC) the same day as one at Fly Flatts Reservoir (HBC). This site held a group of four birds on 30th November (BS).
YELLOWHAMMER
Emberiza citrinella
Uncommon resident breeder: moorland edges, farmland and scrub.
Another species precariously close to extinction in the recording area. There appears to be two strongholds, although only small numbers are noted. In the Sconce Lane area of Baildon Moor up to four birds were noted throughout the year with a peak of eight birds in March and breeding being confirmed in June. The other “main” site is the Leathley/Farnley area where up to five singing males were noted in May and June.
Elsewhere a single bird was noted at Ellarcarr Pike on the southern edge of Timble Ings plantation on the 6th November. Three were spotted at Elland Gravel Pits on 7th May after a previous sighting of just one on 27th April.
REED
BUNTING
Emberiza schoeniclus
Resident breeder/passage visitor: a wide range of wetland habitats, scrub
and wasteland.
Well recorded and fairly widespread but numbers were low this year. Regular sites included Otley, Elland Gravel Pits, Esholt Sewage Works, Denholme Clough and Kex Gill. Breeding was proven at Stockbridge, Wydra and Fewston and Embsay Reservoirs.
Apart from 50 at Ogden Reservoir on 7th January, fourteen on Penistone Hill on 14th February and ten at Cold Edge Dams on 21st November it was disappointing that there were no other double figure counts. Garden records came from Sconce Lane on the edge of Baildon Moor and Silsden.