Unlike the previous species, this one is rather retiring and unobtrusive, and is easily overlooked after the early months, when they are calling or drumming. That there were no more than twelve records, about average, probably reflects this as much as the extent of the bird’s distribution in the area.

As expected, most of the reports came from the period up to May, with the first a bird in Strid Wood on 1st February, followed by another in Folly Hall Wood five days later, and a female in Shipley Glen on 8th. There were three April sightings, all of singles: in Dob Park on 8th, Barden on 19th, and in a private wood on 10th, where a male was seen in suitable breeding habitat.

Of the five remaining reports, three came from Stockbridge Nature Reserve, where there were sightings on 5th June, 24th July and 27th August, one from Knotford Nook on 19th May, and finally from Otley Wetland on 3rd October.

There were no breeding records.

With 38 records from 12 locations, 2006 was an excellent year for this usually unobtrusive species, though it should be pointed out that 14 of the reports relate to well-watched birds in the general area of Shipley Glen, and another seven refer to one location.

As last year, the first report came from the Barden area, on the early date of 18th January, when two birds were seen. February brought the first of the Shipley Glen records, with a bird on the Higher Coach Road, another at St. Ives, and two birds (both drumming) near Lindley Trout Farm. Birds were seen at a private location in the following month, and Shipley Glen again featured, with another pair being located in a different part of the general area on 18th March, on which date a male was found near Apperley Bridge.

Most of the reports in April came from observers seeking out the by now popular Shipley Glen birds, but there were also additional sightings in the Barden area and at Middleton Woods, where the sole May record originated. June produced reports from two additional sites, near Marley Hall Farm and Stockbridge, this latter also having July’s sightings. The only August record came from a further area, Hirst Wood, and the final sighting, from the private woodland, was on the last day of the year. In all, a probable total of 18 birds were seen.

Whilst several pairs were located, the only indication of probable breeding came from Stockbridge, where a bird was seen food-carrying on 2nd July, and where a possible juvenile was observed on 25th June.

There were fewer reports than last year, but 27 records is still a reasonable total for a bird which is increasingly difficult to find after early spring. As in 2006, the various woodlands around Shipley Glen predominated, and birds were seen or heard between 3rd February and 28th May including two birds in courtship display on two occasions. Nearby Gilstead came into the picture in late April, when a pair were discovered excavating a nest-hole, but didn’t appear to subsequently breed. Around this time there were other Airedale records from two sites in Riddlesden (Alder Carr Wood and Field Edge Lane), another came from Baildon Bank on 7th September, and three months later a bird was seen near Silsden.

Away from what is now clearly the species’ stronghold in the recording area, a bird was reported from Middleton Woods in March, with two in April and June, singles were seen in Strid Wood in January and November, and a private woodland had a bird in March and May. The last report confirmed breeding at this location, the year’s only such record.