Recorded between 17th April when one was at Elland Gravel Pits and 14th September when one lingered at Stockbridge. During the summer month’s birds were noted at Marley and Esholt Sewage Works, St.Ives and White Wells with breeding being confirmed at both Stockbridge and Gallows Hill. Birds were also located at Paul Clough and Denholme Clough as well as Elland Gravel Pits, which hosted the year’s highest count of eight birds during June.

The first record of the year was on 24th April at Shipley, followed by another at Gallows Hill the next day. During May this species was found at various sites including Elland Gravel Pits, Otley Chevin, Barden Moor, Knotford Nook and Toad Holes Beck.

Breeding occurred at Stockbridge, Gallows Hill and probably at Marley Sewage Works.

During July and August presumed passage birds were noted at Doe Park Reservoir, Otley Wetland, Leeming Reservoir and East Busk Lane, Otley. The year’s final sighting, again presumably a bird on passage, was at Cold Edge Dams on 2nd September.

There is reason to suggest a decline in the local fortunes of this species as well.

As recently as 2002, between 60 and 70 birds were reported from 26 locations, with a maximum of fourteen birds at one particular site. This year, the comparable figures are 34, 14 and five, this maximum having been noted at Elland Gravel Pits in May, though three birds were seen at Marley Sewage Works and Bingley South Bog in the same month. Loss of habitat is certainly a feature at the key 2002 site, and may be elsewhere, but the position clearly needs to be carefully monitored.

The first arrival, at Gallows Hill, Otley, on 23rd April was almost identical to last year, and the final sighting was on 11th September, a typical date. Within this period, May provided most of the sightings, the majority of which were in the south of the recording area, with only six originating in Wharfedale.

Evidence of breeding came from Elland Gravel Pits, Stockbridge, where a juvenile was seen on 17th July, and Gallows Hill, which had two young birds on 19th August.

Whilst numbers are clearly down on previous years, and including as recently as 2002, the decline highlighted in last year’s Report seems at least to have been halted during 2006.

Fifty-six records was, by current standards, a fairly respectable number, as was the 21 locations involved and the probable total number of birds (including family parties) at around 50. It is clear, however, there is no longer a particular stronghold for the species in the area, and the maximum number of adults seen was three, at Marley Sewage Works and Shibden Head in May, which month, as is so often the case, provided many of the sightings.

The first arrival, at Stockbridge on 23rd April, was on a fairly typical date, but the last record, of two birds in Cullingworth on 25th September, was noteworthy for its lateness and for being an unusual garden observation. Other individuals seen in August and September at Paul Clough, Gallows Hill, Doe Park Reservoir, Bradup and Glovershaw were presumably on migration.

The health of the species locally is, of course, best measured by breeding success, and, whilst on a par with last year, this was significantly down on four years ago. Proved breeding success was reported from Stockbridge, where two young were raised, and Baildon Green, where a family of three juveniles were being fed in June. A bird was also seen at a probable nest-site at Marley.

Whilst, in comparison with the 1990’s, Whitethroat has shown a marked downturn, the position seems to have stabilised since the particularly poor showing in 2005. The statistics are much in line with last year: there were 60 records from 26 locations (mostly in the south), and an estimated 50 adults were seen. A good cross section of sites was involved, including some less typical ones, namely Baildon Moor, Yeadon Tarn and Soil Hill, where the birds seen were clearly migrants.

The paucity of records for June and July fuel the view that the species is little more than a passage migrant these days, and whilst singing males and pairs were noted on a few occasions in this period, there was little resultant breeding activity. Proven breeding came only from Pool Paper Mills and near Low Wood, where in both cases food-carrying was noted, Stockbridge where a pair raised two young, and at Marley a parent and two juveniles were seen, four adults having been present here in late April. A grounded bird on Barden Moor on 20th April was the first of the year, and one at Stockbridge on 6th September the last. Both are fairly typical dates.