News

A respectable number of 250 records submitted covered every month to September, but, as in most previous years, didn’t include many from south of the Aire, which accounted for only about 15% of the total.

Many of the reports came from the lower part of Wharfedale, and particularly Otley Wetland, where the first bird was seen on 4th January. In the normal way, this would be claimed as a very early returnee, had a bird not been seen 10 days previously on 26th December, 2005. In any event, there was just a trickle of birds until February, when significant numbers were seen, and this continued throughout March, and, to a lesser extent, April. Most of the 23 double-figure counts were made in this period, including notable flocks of 40 at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 27th February, 43 near Barden Bridge on 22nd March, and the year’s highest count of 65 at Thruscross Reservoir, now an established stopping-off point for passage birds, four days earlier.

Reasonable numbers of birds continued to be seen at Otley Wetland throughout the summer, with 23 in July the best count, but twos and threes were generally the norm elsewhere. Only a handful of birds were seen after the end of July, with the final sighting on 5th September, quite a late date for a departing migrant, though the increasingly early arrival of summer visitors is tending to complicate the definition of first and last birds. There was surprisingly little evidence of breeding, and the suspicion it was under-recorded. Whilst many juveniles were seen at Otley Wetland in May, the only other information concerned activity at Weecher Reservoir, and the interesting report of a pair raising one young on a factory roof near Stockbridge.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charidrius dubius
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

The year’s first report was of three birds at Kex Gill Quarry on 16th April, rather later than usual. Other birds on spring passage were then seen up to the beginning of June, at Otley Wetland, Marley Sewage Works, and the reservoirs at Lindley Wood, Leeshaw and Thornton Moor. What were presumably birds on return migration were noted at the same reservoirs during July and August, as well as John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir, Silsden Reservoir and Warley Moor Reservoir, where the final two birds were recorded on 13th August, about the same date as last year, and an average one.

Successful breeding took place at two previously unused locations. At one, three pairs were seen with young, and another nest containing three eggs was discovered, and at the other a pair raised four juveniles.

GREAT RINGED PLOVER Charidrius hiaticula
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

Unusually favourable shoreline conditions at Thornton Moor Reservoir during the autumn passage period undoubtedly contributed to 2006 being the most productive year since 1999.

This location had the year’s first returning bird on the very early date of 18th February, but, surprisingly, there were then no further reports until early May, when singles were seen at Kex Gill on the 10th and Warley Moor Reservoir on the 11th, followed by three birds at Weecher Reservoir three days later. June produced only one record: another individual at Warley Moor, and there was then another long gap before the first relocating birds were seen in late July, comprising one at Leeshaw Reservoir and two at Thornton Moor. All the other records were in August, and apart from another (or perhaps the same) bird at Leeshaw on the 1st, and one at John o’ Gaunt’s on the 12th, all the other records came from Thornton Moor.

The 12 reports covered the period from the 1st to the 28th, and in the main comprised two birds at most, but with three on the 19th, and excellent counts of nine and six on the 14th and the 20th. Even allowing for some possible duplication, at least 29 birds were involved during a good passage period.

On the downside, for the third successive year, birds failed to breed.

EURASIAN DOTTEREL Charidrius morinellus
Scarce passage migrant.

Recorded for the second successive year, though not at the traditional stopover point of Rombald’s Moor.

Two males were found on 9th May at High Brown Knoll on Midgley Moor, just inside the Group recording area (HBC).

GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Resident breeder/passage and winter visitor.

As is now customary, the biggest numbers of birds were noted in the first four months of the year, from which 40% of the records originated. Compared with 2005, only five locations had three-figure day counts, and only two registered flocks of 250 birds or more. Sandwith Moor had the biggest numbers again, building up from 250 in early March to 1200 towards the month-end, and peaking at an impressive 2000 birds on four consecutive days from 18th April. Elsewhere, there were 250 birds on Middle Hare Fell in late January, followed a few days later by 100 in Burley-in-Wharfedale on 2nd February, and the only other three-figure counts of 130 at Oxenhope and Draughton Heights at the beginning and end of April.

Good numbers of birds were seen on the wing in March and April, suggesting that migration was by then in full swing. The more notable counts were parties of 50 passing Thornton Moor Reservoir and Warley Moor Reservoir, and 70 at the second location and Kex Gill. Numbers recorded in the autumn migration period (which probably commenced in July) were considerably smaller with only a count of 100 at Sandwith Moor in October particularly notable.

The counts recorded in the second winter period were also considerably smaller than in the first. The best of these were 100 birds at Redcar Tarn and 300 at Chelker Reservoir in November, 120 at Soil Hill in December, and 150 in the Penny Pot Lane area of the Washburn Valley in the same month.

Whilst a few birds were back on territory by the end of April, there was little evidence of breeding, apart from Rombald’s Moor and Warley Moor, where six and five pairs respectively were thought to have bred.

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Fairly regular but scarce passage migrant

Most of our records are of birds flying over, and the two in 2006 were so referable.

Both related to autumn migration, when singles passed Denholme Clough on 2nd October (SJ), and Timble Ings on the 18th.

NORTHERN LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Resident breeder/passage and winter visitor.

Appropriately for the Group’s emblematic bird, Lapwing was well-recorded, with around 210 reports from across the area, including nearly 70 three-figure counts and one of four figures. Breeding data was also well-represented.

The pattern was the usual one of large flocks being seen in the winter months (and to some extent in early spring), with a build-up of numbers following breeding and on migration. In January, there were numerous reports of flocks of more than 200 birds, and particularly notable counts of 765 at Thornton Moor Reservoir on the 2nd., 400 on Middle Hare Fell at the end of the month, and 500 near the centre of Bradford on the 16th. The latter flock was the regular wintering one in the area, and had returned by November, when it was 300-strong. Numbers in February were smaller, but there were good totals of 370 at Redcar Tarn on the 4th, and 400 at Chelker Reservoir the same day, which flock had increased to 450 by the 13th.

Birds had clearly started to move out by March, and a total of 200 at Toad Holes Beck towards the month-end was the highest. Records for the next three months concentrated largely on breeding, and evidence of this came from Glovershaw, Otley Wetland, Kex Gill, Soil Hill, Shelf Moor, the Denton Estate, Weston, Menston and near Howgill Wood. Juvenile birds were seen at many of these, and, from the specific data received from a local ringer, it appears that the most young were reared at Menston and Otley Wetland : 19 and 21.

By the third week in July, post-breeding flocks had started to build up at Thornton Moor, where 217 birds were counted, and a similar count there in August was the highest for that month. Numbers there had increased to 250 by September, which was equalled at Cononley Ings, a location which was to produce several excellent counts towards the end of the year. October was comparatively quiet, with 200 birds at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir the highest figure, but good numbers had returned by November, with movements over Caldene Fields culminating in a maximum count of 418 birds on the 12th, 350 at Redcar Tarn, and totals of 500 and 750 at the now-flooded Cononley Ings. The floods attracted the year’s highest count of 1500 birds here on 3rd December, with others of 470 and 900, and 400 on nearby Silsden Floods.

RED KNOT Calidris canutus
Scarce and irregular passage migrant

Most records of this species come from the south of the recording area, and in the latter part of the year. Both applied this year, when Warley Moor Reservoir had two birds on 29th October, until flushed by a Merlin, and one on Christmas Eve (BS).

SANDERLING Calidris alba
Uncommon and irregular passage migrant.

Sanderling is by no means annual, so five records are very welcome, and the minimum six birds seen in total represents the best year since 1996.

All the reports came from Thornton Moor Reservoir, by far the area’s most reliable site for the species, and initially there were two birds on 20th May (PC, BV). The remaining sightings occurred in an excellent 12 day period from 27th July, when an adult bird was found, and was still present on the following day. Two birds, possibly including the original one, were there on the 29th, and a different juvenile/1st-winter bird two days later, to be followed by another adult on 7th August (KM, RHP, BV).

PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima
Passage migrant/winter visitor (scarce inland).

The Group has done well to have two records of this coastal species. This second one concerns a 1st-winter bird found on Soil Hill on 12th November, and which, despite appalling conditions, was still present the next day (BS et al).

DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Fairly common passage migrant/scarce and sporadic breeder.

Of the 42 records submitted, 65% of them related to Thornton Moor Reservoir, and nearly all the rest also came from the south of the area. Compared with 2005, there was a surprising lack of autumn sightings after the first week in August, when most of last year’s big counts were made, and numbers at Thornton Moor were generally well down, despite favourable shoreline conditions.

The first of the Thornton Moor reports concerned two birds on 27th April, following which birds were seen on 11 further dates to the middle of June, with the highest count a fairly unremarkable four on 9th June. What was probably autumn passage began at this site with a single on 7th July, followed by reports of ones and twos on a further nine days, and similar records on four days in August and one in October. Comfortably the highest count in this period was six birds on 1st August.

Other locations had the year’s first and last sightings, with single birds at Farnhill Ings on 16th March, and Redcar Tarn on 25th November. Between these dates Otley Wetland had birds on three days in May, including two displaying on the 7th, and one day in June, and the same period produced two sightings at Leeshaw Reservoir. There was a bird at Warley Moor Reservoir in early July, and three there mid-month, and a good record of one flying over Allerton on 24th September. Some five weeks later 14 birds at Chelker Reservoir represented the highest number seen here, and two birds present at Cononley Ings on the last day of October were probably the same ones seen there on 2nd November.

Although display was noted at Otley Wetland, Warley Moor and Thornton Moor, breeding was not established, but one observer considered the birds frequenting Leeshaw Reservoir might have bred on adjacent moorland.

RUFF Philomachus pugnax
Scarce passage visitor.

Three records now represents a reasonable return for the species. The first was a bird at Otley Wetland on 12th May (BV), followed by another which flew past Thornton Moor Reservoir on 11th September. Finally, there was a scarce winter record, when three females, probably 1st-winters, were found at the flooded Cononley Ings on 8th December (KM).

JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus
Uncommon but annual passage/winter visitor.

Several excellent years for this species seem to have come to an end, due in large part to landfill operations at Soil Hill rendering this site far less attractive to the birds. Whilst one claim came from here, it cannot be included, in the absence of a description.

As it is, all the records emanate from Otley Wetland, and two or three at least might refer to the same bird. A single was flushed on 4th January, and again on 7th February, and some two weeks later (KM). After a gap of just over three weeks, another bird was seen on 15th March (JLT, AJ).

COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Resident breeder; passage/winter visitor.

As other recent Reports have pointed out, numbers are now well down on those of several years ago, and last year’s figures were considerably boosted by the autumn visible migration counts. That situation has been reversed this year, as the numbers of birds seen in the first winter period considerably exceeded those seen on migration, and individual day totals were also generally better.

Between the beginning of the year and the end of January, 115 birds were noted, with double-figure counts of ten at Skipton Sewage Works, 12 at Warley Moor Reservoir and Otley Wetland (the latter increasing to 20), and on 26th March, a particularly notable count of 31 birds in one field at Prune Park (Bradford). In contrast, migration numbers were well down on 2005, and the total tally from 11 locations was only 68 birds, of which 28 were recorded at Thornton Moor Reservoir, which had the highest seasonal day count of a relatively modest ten birds. The second winter period fared even worse: only six birds were seen in the whole of November, and none at all in December.

The first drumming display flights were noted at Barden Scale on 31st March, and there were then other reports of this activity up to early July here, and at Kex Gill, Glovershaw, Timble Ings, Leeshaw, Scargill Reservoir, Hawksworth Moor, Whetstone Gate and Warley Moor. All this would suggest breeding took place at some of these locations at least, but there was no tangible evidence of it.

Despite the encouraging numbers early in the year, the conclusion must be that numbers are generally well down on those of ten years ago.

WOODCOCK Scolopus rusticola
Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor.

Comment has been made previously on the fact that migratory and wintering birds of this species can be seen almost anywhere, and so it proved in 2006. Unexceptional locations included Timble Ings (where up to three birds were seen), Marley Hall Farm, Otley Wetland, Redshaw Gill, Soil Hill, Lippersley Pike and Harden Moor, but there were more unexpected sightings. These came from Milnerfields Lane (Gilstead), the car park at Stainburn Moor, and four locations in urban Bradford : Stoney Ridge, Windhill, over the Interchange Bus Station on 3rd April, and, most remarkably, sitting outside the Outpatients’ Department at the Royal Infirmary on 2nd November.

Breeding season records were, inevitably, more mundane,and came mainly from Timble Ings, where up to four birds were seen in roding display flight on six dates between 10th April and 3rd July. This was also noted at Sandwith Moor, Marley Hall, Baildon Bank, St. Ives, Shipley, and a private woodland, where there were said to be good numbers. However, no evidence of breeding was forthcoming.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
Regular, but scarce passage migrant.

Three records of this species in the recording area is a good showing.

The first of these involved two birds at Otley Wetland on 2nd May (PRo), and the other two reports both came from John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir. A single bird was present there on 23rd July (D&BP), and around three weeks later four birds were seen.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Regular, but scarce passage visitor.

This year there were two more records than of the preceding species, although two of them are likely to refer to the same birds.

Otley Wetland produced all but one of the reports. On 22nd January one flew over (MD, SJ), but all the remaining records were in May. A good total of eight birds were present on the 1st (JA), and what were almost certainly the same birds were seen at Bolton Abbey later in the day. The following day there were two birds (AGG, AJ), and this productive period concluded with another on the 7th (MD).

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus
Regular, but uncommon passage migrant.

With only four records, and a total of five birds, 2006 was the quietest year since 1987, despite good shoreline conditions during the autumn migration period.

The sole spring report was a calling bird over Lower Barden Reservoir on 21st May. Autumn relocation commenced with two birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 6th August, but produced nothing else until the 23rd, when a bird overflew Wilsden, and one was seen on the 31st with Curlews on Soil Hill.

EURASIAN CURLEW Numenius arquata
Common resident breeder and passage/winter visitor.

The numbers seen in both winter periods were much in line with last year’s, with one notable exception. Between January and the middle of March three-figure flocks were seen in Wharfedale on five occasions. On the first of these, a Group record was established by the considerable flock of 800 birds seen near Burley on 30th January (ES). Other totals fell well short of this, but there were 200 birds here three days later, 120 at Otley Wetland on 17th February, building up to at least 350 birds on 5th March, and 120 near Middleton Woods on the 7th. In the same period Airedale produced about 160 birds at Farnhill Ings on 3rd March, and 330 at Cononley Ings on the 16th. In December, a maximum count of 165 birds was made in the Ilkley and Denton area.

It was evident that from mid-February birds were relocating to their breeding areas, but, unusually, a calling bird was on Thornton Moor on New Year’s Day. By early March some birds were back on territory, but, as in previous years, breeding records were patchy. The behaviour of birds on Keighley Moor and at Glovershaw indicated they were breeding pairs, and there were said to be a few pairs breeding on Askwith Moor and Beamsley Moor. The only direct evidence of success, however, came from Warley Moor, which had a pair with young, Low Snowden, where five juveniles were seen, and Burley and Hawksworth Moors, where ten pairs raised broods of only ones and twos. The same observer reported that, in general, breeding was down on other moorland areas. An interesting record came from Thornton Moor, where an identifiably distinctive bird returned to its usual breeding area for at least its fourth year.

By July, return migration was underway, and there was an unusually early large gathering of about 190 birds spread over various parts of Addingham Moor. Otherwise, between then and the end of October only about 160 birds were logged, with no big flocks or movement.

COMMON REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Migrant breeder/passage and occasional winter visitor.

The presence and movements of this bird within the recording area are fairly predictable, and continued to be so in 2006, although the first sighting, at Otley Wetland on 26th January, was a good month earlier than usual. There was only one record in February, and the expected rush didn’t start until the second week in March, following which, there were many reports to the end of May. Again predictably, 70% of the year’s 91 records were for the first five months, and included the highest counts of 11 birds, both on the seasonal floods at Cononley Ings on 16th March and 9th April. Records were otherwise well spread across 22 locations.

Of the few June records, several were in respect of successful breeding, at Whetstone Gate, where there were two juveniles, and at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir, where there were three. Breeding also took place at Otley Wetland, where at least two young fledged, and at Rombald’s Moor, and a newly-fledged bird at Thornton Moor Reservoir had presumably been raised in the general area. However, the presence of pairs at other sites didn’t result in proven breeding.

Most of the records for July and late August no doubt referred to post-breeding dispersal, and all came from Thornton Moor. Allowing for the presence of some birds there for several days, the probability is the total movement involved no more than ten birds. Unlike 2005, birds were seen in November and December, and all came from Cononley Ings and Bradley Ings, where the flooded fields provided an attraction.

COMMON GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
Regular passage migrant.

Whilst 16 records represents only two more than in 2005, the 20 or so birds seen is a considerable improvement on last year.

Since 2002, spring records seem to be getting scarcer, and the only two were singles at Otley Wetland on 19th April, and at a private site the following day. Returning birds were seen from 6th July, when there was one at Thornton Moor Reservoir, but this often prolific location produced only another three records during that month, one in August, and another on 8th September: all were of single birds.

Nearby Warley Moor Reservoir had a bird on 9th July, and another on the 31st, but Doe Park Reservoir was the best of the southern locations, having a good count of four on 3rd September. The remaining records came from Otley Wetland, which had a bird on 18th July, Lindley Wood Reservoir, where up to two birds were seen at the end of August, and the same number on 5th September, and John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir, with a bird on 12th August.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
Regular passage migrant and occasional winter visitor.

Nine records is now slightly better than average for an increasingly uncommon bird.

As might be expected, most of the reports were of birds on post-breeding passage, and the first of these was on 26th July, when a bird visited Stockbridge (SR), closely followed by two birds at Lindley Wood Reservoir on the 29th and until 1st August (KM, AGG), and another at Warley Moor Reservoir on the 30th (BS). John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir held at least one bird on 12th August, and a week later a single was at Thornton Moor Reservoir on the 19th (DCB), with another at Stockbridge the following day (P&MR), and a good total of three birds which spent two days at Silsden Reservoir from the 21st (JLT).

Outside this period, a bird at Caldene Fields on 8th and 9th April was a good local find (MVP), and there was a welcome, and now rather scarce, winter record from Cononley Ings on 3rd December. (MSm).

COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
Migrant breeder/passage migrant.

The first arrival was on the fairly typical date of 11th April at Cononley. Between then and the final sighting of a bird at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 10th September, records came from 23 widespread locations.

Birds were seen on many dates in April and May as they arrived at potential breeding sites or passed through the area, but generally only ones and twos were involved, and five birds at Warley Moor Reservoir on 29th May and six at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 9th June were exceptional. Numbers were generally higher when return passage got underway, but once more six was the highest site count, again at Thornton Moor, on 14th July.

Within six weeks of the first arrival, a nest had been discovered near Barden Bridge, and pairs were then also seen at Lower Barden Reservoir and Otley Wetland, but the only proved successful breeding came from Kex Gill Quarry, Menston and reservoir sites at Leeshaw, Lower Laithe, Warley Moor and Thornton Moor.

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Scarce, regular, passage migrant.

A reasonable year started with a bird, presumably the same one, at Otley Wetland on 7th and 8th May (MD, BV), and a good total of four birds at Warley Moor Reservoir three weeks later (BS).

As in 2005, autumn passage also produced a bird, seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 1st August (BV, KM).