The Great Spotted Woodpecker is the commonest and most easily seen woodpecker in the recording area, with birds being encountered at many sites at all times of the year. Breeding was confirmed at Beecroft Moor plantation, Esholt, Menston, Nell Bank and Middleton Woods.

Still our commonest woodpecker by far, with records covering the whole of the BOG area. The handful of breeding records does not give a clear picture of the status, as breeding will certainly occur in many areas of woodland and parkland.

This most vocal and visible of our local woodpeckers was again well-recorded, and it was particularly pleasing to have many reports of breeding activity. Whilst most records came, as expected, from woodland and its fringes, birds were also seen in suburbs, and there were garden records from Oakworth, Baildon, where one was using a bird-table, and Silsden, where a bird tried to invade a Blue Tit nest-box to predate the young. Aside from family parties, the most birds seen at any location were five at St. Ives.

Pre-breeding activity started as early as 15th January, when three birds could be heard drumming at St. Ives, and there were many further reports from there, including a bird enhancing its territorial claims by drumming on metal. Drumming was also heard at Burley, Norwood Edge and Strid Wood.

The latter location was one of many where successful breeding was noted and there were also reports of young being fed, or subsequently on the wing, from Shipley Glen, St. Ives, Hirst Wood, Beecroft Moor Plantation, Harden Park, Low Wood, Cottingley, the Oxenhope area, Dob Park, Nell Bank, and a private site.