2003 Report

2004 Report

2005 Report

RED KITE Milvus milvus
Resident and scarce breeder.

The 260 reports submitted in 2006 represented a record for this species. Any euphoria must, however, be subject to a few caveats:

* Nearly 150 of the records came from one location, Barden Scale, and there were many other sightings in the same general area, presumably referable to the same birds.

* All but four of the remaining records came from the Washburn Valley and the lower part of Wharfedale, suggesting the birds originated from the Harewood scheme.

* Many of the Barden sightings referred to a pair resident in the area, identified by numbered wing-tags.

It is therefore difficult to evaluate the true extent of the birds’ spread from the Harewood introduction site, but multiple sightings, particularly at Barden, were commonplace, and six birds were seen on two occasions, and seven and eight birds once, this last sighting on 30th September, being a day record for the Group (AGG). Elsewhere, seven birds were seen together at Lindley Green on 26th March. Whilst wing-tags on many of the birds seen at Barden identified these as also having local origins, a bird which summered in the area was identified by the same means as being from another introduction scheme in Northamptonshire, so it is clear not all the birds seen are necessarily local.

Last year, only one record came from a location away from the above-mentioned core areas: this year there were four. On 3rd June, a bird was seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir, and what might have been the same bird eight days later at nearby Warley Moor, though there had been no other sightings in the interim period. Denholme Clough is a known autumn migration flyway, so the bird seen there on 4th October could have been relocating. Finally, there was an intriguing record of a bird over Canal Road, Bradford (within a half-mile of the City Centre) on 28th May.

Once again, it is pleasing to report a breeding success, as the birds which in 2005 spent the spring at a potential nesting area, raised two young there this year. Both parents were from the Harewood scheme, and one was a second-generation bird. Given the numbers clearly now present in the area, it would be nice to see more successes in future years.

MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus
Scarce, but regular, passage visitor.

The six accepted records this year are in line with 2005, and it is notable that half of them came from the south of the area. All the birds were ‘cream-crowns’, indicating either females or sub-adults, some of which were specifically designated by the observer.

Warley Moor Reservoir had the first of these, on 25th March, a probable juvenile (HC), and another was seen here on 15th July (RS, PC). Of Barden Scale’s two reports, on 7th June and 25th August, the second was a juvenile (AGG), but the year’s final birds, both on 9th September, couldn’t be aged. These were seen at the opposite ends of the recording area, at Leeshaw Reservoir (BV), and Sandwith Moor (AJ).

Three other reports of the species were not confirmed by a description.

HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus
Regular passage/winter visitor.

The total of only 17 records received for this attractive raptor represents the lowest since 1991, and it is likely that no more than 13 different birds were involved, itself a low figure compared to many previous years. The situation is therefore quite concerning, particularly as the answer doesn’t lie in under-recording: indeed the main locations for the species are now considerably better watched than they were 15 years ago. This may be a temporary lull, but the position needs to be monitored.

There is a suspicion that birds are now wintering in only very small numbers, if at all. Only three birds were seen in the first three months: a juvenile at Barden Scale on 11th and 12th January, a ring-tail there on 19th March, and an adult male at Whetstone Gate ten days later, which fortuitously and obligingly flushed two Short-eared Owls for the observer. The third Barden Scale record illustrated the changing scene there as the bird was pursued by a Red Kite. The second winter period was totally devoid of records, and the remaining ones probably all relate to birds relocating.

In April, a bird was seen at Timble Ings on the 14th, and another on the moors near Oxenhope on the 16th, one of only three records from the south of the area. May produced a male at Barden Scale on the 16th, and records of what was presumably the same ring-tail bird on the moors adjoining Leeshaw Reservoir on the 29th and 30th. The lack of midsummer records was unsurprising, but there were only two for the early autumn period, a bird at Barden on 22nd August, which attracted the attentions of a Peregrine and a Kestrel, and a bird on Sandwith Moor on 9th September.

All the remaining records originated in October. A different bird was seen on Sandwith Moor on the 8th., and there were two reports on the 13th., of single birds at Kex Gill and Whetstone Gate. Ten days later a ring-tail was seen at Noska Brow and South Nab, and the following day one was over Barden Fell, the first sighting at the usually productive Barden Scale site for over two months. Given the proximity of these three locations, it is likely only one bird was involved.

Two of the sightings involved wing-tagged birds. The tag colours on the August bird couldn’t be made out, but the detail seen on the Sandwith Moor bird of early October identified it as having been fledged that year in Bowland.

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NORTHERN GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis
Scarce resident/passage visitor.

This year’s records tend to indicate that the species continues to maintain its presence in the area, if only just, and there is still no indication of breeding activity, despite some display and the intermittent presence of an apparent pair.

Two principal locations were involved. At the first, a male was seen on 28th January, and a sub-adult female on 31st March (AGG), but neither observation indicated more than a transient presence in the area.

The other location has produced birds perched out prominently in the early months in previous years, and this year the first such male was seen on 16th February, with what was probably a different bird there on the 27th. This second bird was then seen on several more dates to 4th April, and was in the company of a probable female on the 1st and 3rd of that month, the female having also been seen individually a month earlier. The final authenticated record was of a male in the same general area on 24th June (KM, JLT, MD, AJ), but two other reports weren’t supported by a description.

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EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus
Common resident breeder/ passage visitor.

As ever, Sparrowhawk was well-recorded, and some 270 reports came from 75 widespread locations, including a rather larger number from urban and suburban areas than has been the case in recent years.

Barden Scale watchpoint produced 40% of the records, and the biggest numbers, of between two and five birds, were seen there on many dates, and the year’s highest count of six on 5th May. Many of these sightings coincided with display flights, noted on 24 occasions between March and early July, but also once on the late date of 8th November. However, even later display was observed at Stockbridge on 3rd December, and on the penultimate day of the year at Sunnydale. This activity was also seen in spring at Lindley Wood, Blubberhouses and Hirst Wood.

The likelihood is that breeding took place at several of these places, but it was proved only at locations elsewhere: Denton, Weston, Menston, Middleton Woods, Howgill, Bingley Moor, and a private woodland. In total, at least 17 young fledged. Behaviour also indicated possible breeding at Oxenhope and Shipley Glen, but it wasn’t proved.

The species is nowadays seen increasingly in gardens, lured by the availability of prey species at garden-feeders. In 2006, birds were seen to enter gardens at Ben Rhydding (on several occasions), Queensbury, Bingley and two different locations in Baildon, and were seen in the general vicinity of others at Sconce Lane, Otley, Keighley and Cononley. Prey items or intended victims here and elsewhere included Blackbird, Lapwing, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Greenfinch, Meadow Pipit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Collared Dove and Redwing. Less usually, a bird was seen at Barden carrying a large pheasant poult, and at Norwood Lane one repeatedly and unsuccessfully attacked a young hare.

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COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo
Increasingly common resident, and passage migrant/ winter visitor.

The compiler of the Group’s first Report in 1987 had just one record of this species to document. Twenty years on and there are no fewer than 320 to analyse! Such is the wealth of information now provided and the potential number of birds involved that it is largely impossible and futile to say just how many individuals there are. It is hoped, therefore, that the figures which follow will provide a flavour of the exponential growth of the species in the area in the last 20 years. They are dealt with by general location.

Barden Scale Watchpoint
Continues to produce by far the most records and the highest numbers, due largely to the assiduous coverage by one observer in particular (AGG). Up to nine birds a day were seen there in every month, and double-figure counts were made on several days in all but four months of the year. The relevant figures are:

Birds were also seen at other Wharfedale locations away from this main area, including some where breeding pairs were present. Whilst it is simply not possible to say just how many there were, the pattern of sightings and locations suggests a minimum of 40 birds in the dale away from the main Barden Scale concentration.

Washburn Valley
Birds were seen throughout the year at a number of widespread locations. Whilst getting nowhere near the Barden figures, up to five birds were seen together on occasion, and it is possible around 35 different birds were seen in total during the course of the year.

Airedale
It is encouraging that a greater number of records have come from this area than previously, but it is too early to tell whether it represents a genuine expansion. It is probable 12 different birds were involved, and notable sightings included several in the general area north-west of Kildwick, mainly single birds, but four were seen on Bradley Moor in late March, and three at nearby Cononley Ings seven months later. Lower down the valley, a bird took up residence near Marley Hall Farm in midsummer.

Oxenhope
The moorland areas to the south and west produced six records of birds in the vicinity of Warley Moor during June, mainly singles, but three on the 11th and two on the 16th. A single bird over Oxenhope Moor at the beginning of the month could have been one of these. Individuals at Thornton Moor Reservoir on three dates in August, September and October are, however, more likely to have been relocating.

This proved to be the species’ most successful breeding year in the recording area. In Wharfedale ten pairs raised a total of 15 young, and in the Washburn Valley, four pairs produced eight young. To this should be added the discovery of four nests where subsequent breeding didn’t materialise, and several other locations where obvious pairs were seen, often in display flight.

Overall, the future for Buzzard in this area looks distinctly bright.

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OSPREY Pandion haliaetus
Uncommon but regular passage visitor.

Such are the expectations of seeing Ospreys in the area these days that the 2006 tally of at least 13 birds might be viewed as disappointing. Allowing for some duplicated reports, there were 18 records, about half of which came from the Barden Scale watchpoint.

The year’s first sighting came from the south of the region, however, when a bird passed Warley Moor Reservoir on 25th March (HC). Barden’s first record was on 7th April, and there were then reports of single birds on a further five days during the month, until the 26th (AGG, MKT, BV et al). The pattern of sightings indicates a minimum of two birds were involved, but, given the tendency in recent years for birds to linger in the vicinity, there might not have been more than this. Further records from here, on 16th May, 25th August and 1st and 15th September, will have been different birds (AGG, MKT, D&BP).

The southern sector had all but two of the remaining records, the exceptions being a single at Timble Ings on 28th May, and another which was seen to catch a fish at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 5th September (AGG). This second date was clearly one of some movement, as two birds were seen at Ogden Reservoir, and what was presumably one of them was also noted from Soil Hill and Thornton Moor Reservoir (HBC), which location had also produced a bird several weeks earlier, on 14th July (RHP). The year’s final record was of a bird perched in a pine tree at nearby Lower Laithe Reservoir on 17th September (BV).

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COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus
Common resident breeder/passage migrant.

With over 340 submissions, this species continues to be the Group’s best-recorded, although it must again be pointed out that 165 of them came from the raptor watchpoint at Barden Scale. This latter figure is exactly the same as in 2005, confirming there is no diminishment in the indefatigable efforts of the main contributor! Other observations were spread fairly evenly across the recording area, but, as in previous years, a relatively small number came from urban and suburban locations, though there is nothing to suggest that birds are other than well-established there.

In the early months of the year, records of ones and twos predominated, but by late April up to six birds were being seen at Barden, and, no doubt boosted by post-breeding activity, seven and even eight birds were noted there on several occasions in July, August and September, with a locally good count of six birds at Warley Moor Reservoir in the latter month.

Despite these numbers, breeding information was mainly limited to that generated by ringers monitoring this activity, and there were few reports of birds displaying, though the presence of apparently paired birds pointed to possible breeding. Probable pairs were seen at Barden as early as February, followed by a record at Glovershaw in March. Subsequently, likely pairs were seen at Barden on eight occasions, and also at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir, Lower Laithe Reservoir, and Otley Wetland. Displaying birds were noted at Blubberhouses, Dob Park Bridge, Stockbridge and Soil Hill.

The only firm evidence of breeding came from elsewhere, however, the locations concerned being near Leeds Bradford Airport, Forest Moor, Timble Ings, Denton Estate, Kex Gill, Howgill Wood, Nell Bank, and a private woodland. In all, 30 juveniles were found, many of which were ringed. It is possible successful breeding also took place at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir, Baildon Bank, Barden, and Otley Wetland. Overall, breeding activity seems to be at least in line with other recent years, though the probability remains that some is being undetected or not reported.

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MERLIN Falco columbarius
Resident breeder and passage/winter visitor.

Records came from 23 locations, most of them, not surprisingly, on or near moorland right across the Group area. Many of the different sites were fairly adjacent, making it possible that the same birds were involved in a good number of the 60 reports submitted. There were only three winter records: one of these was in the vicinity of a known breeding area, and the others came from the Washburn Valley and Soil Hill. This last site also had a bird in September, presumably on migration, and around this time other relocating birds were seen at Denholme, Paul Clough, and Thornton Moor Reservoir, where three birds flew south on 22nd September, the highest site total, other than in respect of birds at the nest. The only other record away from known breeding habitat was a bird over Chelker Reservoir in April.

Breeding took place on the main blocks of moorland, and 41 fledged young is the best total on record, though it should be remembered that in some past years data has not been available for all the known breeding sites. In the first general area, two pairs raised six juveniles, and whilst other pairs were seen on another part of this moorland, they clearly didn’t breed. On the second moorland, the two pairs there did rather better, fledging eight young, but the third area fared best, as is customary, and a total of 27 young were raised from seven nests.

HOBBY Falco subbuteo
Uncommon, but regular summer visitor/passage migrant.

Even if all four records submitted had been supported by the necessary descriptions, 2006 would have been a poor year. As it was, only two of them were so validated, making it particularly disappointing.

Only one record came from a recently reliable part of Wharfedale, a bird seen on 5th August, and aged as a 1st-summer individual (AGG). The other was one chasing hirundines near Leeshaw Reservoir on 21st September (BV).

It is only a few years ago that the numbers of birds seen in the area prompted thoughts of local breeding, so it is hoped the current downturn is only temporary.

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PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus
Resident and occasional breeder; passage/winter visitor.

As recently as 2002, the Report stated that by far the majority of records were from the north of the area. This has now been reversed, as, of nearly 100 records received, 61 originate from south of the Aire, and 32 from the north, with almost all these coming from Barden Scale. One can only speculate why this should be. Equally puzzling is the fact that for the second year in succession there were very few records after the end of September. Once again, there were only ten reports, and the final sighting was on 6th November. As the year’s first record wasn’t until 21st January, and there were only five reports between then and the end of February, it can be seen birds were apparently absent for most of the winter months.

The majority of the sightings were of single birds, and never more than two, and it is quite probable many of the records of birds seen at relatively close locations, and within the same general period, relate to the same individuals. Allowing for this, and given that observers were able to differentiate between some of the birds seen, it is possible no more than twenty were involved in total.

In the northern sector, the only sightings away from Barden were at Skibeden Quarry, Whetstone Gate, Denton Moor and Blubberhouses. In the south, the main focal point was Warley Moor Reservoir, with most other sightings coming from relatively close locations such as Thornton Moor Reservoir, Cullingworth, Oxenhope Moor and Leeshaw. Whilst juveniles were identified on a number of occasions, there was no absolute proof of successful breeding, although a pair again took up residence at a site where they have raised young in the past.

Peregrines are regular intimidators of corvids, gulls and other raptors, and at Barden were seen to harass a Red Kite, a Hen Harrier, and, on several occasions, Ravens. Around Thornton Moor, the regular juvenile generally had to be content with gulls and crows, though it did succeed in taking a Lapwing. However, when the same bird was seen at Cullingworth flying at Carrion Crows, the loafing gulls remained in the fields and totally ignored it.

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