Doves, Nightjar & Alpine Swift

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur Scarce passage visitor

1988 - A bird was seen and heard at Timble Ings on 12th and 13th July was unusual as this species is rare locally.

1989 - A Turtle Dove was in the conifer plantation at Timble Ings on 7th May, curiously, in exactly the same spot as the only one reported in 1988. The other was in more typical habitat at Scolebrook Lane near Black Carr Wood on 21st May.

1990 - One record, namely a single at Timble Ings on 25th May; this the third consecutive year tha a bird has been reported from this moorland conifer plantation.

1993 - A rare bird in the area, so a single at Elland Gravel Pits on 22nd May was a surprise find.

1994 - This species continues to be elusive in our area and as last year only a single bird was found, at Beechcliffe Ings near Keighley on 29th June. What was presumed to be the same bird was seen nearby on 5th July.

1997 - A single bird was seen at Bingley South Bog on 5th August; this represented the first recorded sighting of this species in the Group’s area since 1994.

1999 - Just one record was received in 1999, of a bird in Haworth Road, Bradford on 13th May.

2000 - The only record was of a calling bird at Denholme Sewage Works on 10th May.

2002 - A bird was seen near Mytholroyd, on the fringe of the recording area, on 21st May. It represents the eigth record for the Group

2004 - A better year than usual, with two records. A single bird was discovered drinking from a pool on the track at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 4th August, and an individual was seen in Silsden on 20th May.

2014 - On the 22nd September a bird was seen from Oxenhope watchpoint as it flew northwards. This was the first since 2004 and the 11th recorded in the BOG area.

2016 - There were two records, both of the same bird, on 15th and 25th May near Leathley (AJ).

ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET Psittacula krameri

Uncommon, possible escapee.

The species was first reported in 1990. It was also seen most years 1995 to 2007. Recent sightings:

2012 - Birds of unknown origin turn up periodically, and this year one flew over Caldene Fields on 8th September.

2013 - Yet again, these birds of unknown origin turned up once more, but this time there were three reports, two probably involving the same bird. As in 2012, a bird flew over Caldene Fields on 15th October and another was seen and photographed on a feeder in Saltaire later that month. The bird seen on Lucy Hall Drive, Baildon on 3rd December could well have been the same one.

2014 - There were four reports involving eight birds that were seen in gardens and parkland in urban areas. The first, on 8th February, was in an Allerton garden, followed a month later by two birds in Northcliffe Woods. Two birds were also seen in Myrtle Park, Bingley in June and just before Christmas three visited Northcliffe, Shipley.

2015 - It’s always a surprise to see and hear this attractive parrot and reports of their presence are increasing. This year there were seven records involving 20 birds, all of them in the Aire Valley. Four birds were seen in Chellow Dene and two in the Undercliffe area in March and a single flew through Cullingworth in July. The Nab Wood area was the scene of two reports; four birds in gardens near Moorhead Terrace in August and a repeat, this time with two birds in November. Four birds were in the canal area at Apperley Bridge in September and the final report in December was of two birds at Greengates.

2016 - The 16 records account for 24 birds, mostly from gardens and parks in the Shipley and Bingley area. Four were photographed on feeders in Nab Wood in January, three visited a Bingley garden and a couple of others made repeat visits to feeders in Baildon. Two, possibly three birds were seen prospecting a tree hole at Northcliffe and further afield there were sightings of singles at Yeadon Tarn, Otley Wetland NR, Ogden Reservoir, Highfield (Keighley) and Esholt.

2017 - Birds appear to be established around Shipley, where up to four birds were seen on three occasions, and an exceptional and record flock of 15 birds visited a garden on 17th July (MSc). Other reports came from Keighley, Apperley Bridge, Eccleshill and Low Moor.

2018 - Most records continue to come from Airedale, and the 12 reported locations are well-up on 2017, though there was nothing from what had appeared to be the stronghold round Shipley. The Apperley Bridge area now seems to be well-favoured, and up to five birds were seen there, and at least six were seen regularly around Braithwaite.

NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus Scarce summer visitor

Most recent sightings:

2012 - Locations and numbers were well down on last year, and it is likely birds summered at only two adjacent sites, where at least two were seen at both between 9th June and 11th July, and one was caught and ringed. Singles found elsewhere on 21st May and 4th June could have been transient. As in 2011, there was no indication of breeding.

2013 - Deforestation of the sites at Stainburn Forest and Norwood Edge have provided new locations where at least three pairs have been watched late into the summer evenings. Although there was no evidence, it is reasonable to assume that breeding did take place at these locations. Another pair was identified during July at Rivock Plantation, where churring and display flights were witnessed.

2014 - As in recent years, the areas where deforestation has taken place have provided excellent habitats for this species. The newly-cleared areas at Sandwith Moor, Norwood Edge, and Rivock Plantation have remained prime locations. At Sandwith Moor two pairs were active, with two birds seen in one location and a third was heard elsewhere. At Norwood Edge a male was heard in July and at the Rivock Plantation up to three birds were identified.

2015 - The eight reports were from watchers who spent late evenings at Stainburn Forest and covered the period from 3rd June to 2nd July. The submitted information indicated that at least two, possibly three pairs were active. Males were heard churring and engaging in wing clapping, and females were seen hawking for insects, but there was no further information concerning breeding.

2016 - Conditions at two sites in the Washburn - at Stainburn and Norwood Edge Plantations, where trees have been cleared and ground exposed - proved to be ideal for this species. At the first location between 30th May and 14th August, at least two pairs were regularly seen, and though breeding was not confirmed, the late sightings suggest that it may have taken place. At the second site, two birds were seen from the the middle of June until 8th August, with the same possible conclusions. On Barden Moor, a male was heard churring on 4th June and further down the valley at Bolton Abbey, on 21st August, a bird was seen resting on a garden wall in mid-afternoon.

2017 - Birds again established themselves at four places in the Washburn Valley, and up to four were seen at a new moorland site. At one of them, breeding was probable, but unproven.

2018 - Birds were again seen at three well-established sites in the Washburn Valley, and at a new one in Wharfedale. Up to five were seen on occasion, and it’s likely there were at least 13 birds in all. There was no direct evidence of successful breeding.

SWIFT Apus apus

Migrant breeder and passage visitor.

Most recent sightings:

2016 - The first sighting was on 24th April at Yeadon Tarn, exactly the same date as the previous year. In the first week of May, ten were feeding over Esholt and over 20 were seen at the breeding sites of Hewenden viaduct and over Otley town centre. There was a major arrival, witnessed at Queensbury on 22nd May, when in a 15 minute spell more than 60 birds swept by, all heading towards the north east. During the summer months, over 200 were feeding at Leeshaw Reservoir and 40 others over Baildon Moor. These were the only parties of any size and once more we were left reflecting on the decline of this species. Breeding took place again at the traditional sites of Otley, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Ben Rhydding, where family groups ‘screamed’ around the houses on tranquil summer evenings.

2017 - Parties of up to 50 were seen around the area from early May to late July, and there were exceptional counts in August of 120 migrating birds at Warley Moor Reservoir and 285 at Oxenhope Watchpoint. Breeding took place in Riddlesden, at Hewenden Reservoir, and at three sites in Otley.

2018 - Counts of about 50 birds were fairly typical, unspecific ‘hundreds’ were mentioned at one site, and between 100 and 200 were seen in June and July at Otley, Warley Moor, Slippery Ford and Lindley Wood. Breeding probably occurred at Hewenden and Otley, and may have been unrecorded elsewhere.

ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba Vagrant

2003 Following acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee, a bird seen on 26th April at Otley becomes the first Group record