The 2016 Report is sponsored by

10 Ivegate, Yeadon, LS19 7RE 0113 3910 510 website: www.birdholidays.co.uk email: [email protected]

Report Production

Editor: Paul King Sub-Editor: Keith Moir Contributors: Keith Moir, Paul King, John Armstrong, Martyn Priestley, Brian Sumner. Records Collation: Stephen Lilley with assistance from Shaun Radcliffe and Paul King

Photographs

Front Cover: Black Grouse - Ian Hargreaves Inside Front Cover: Garden Warbler - Keith Allen Whitethroat family - Nigel Priestley Back Cover: Cuckoo - Brian Vickers Little Owl - Phil Matthews Others: As individually credited

Editorial This, the 30th Annual Report, represents a milestone for Ornithological Group. When that first tentative gathering of birders met in a classroom in 1987, none could foresee that from such an inauspicious start would be developed the well-respected and authoritative Group of which we are a part today. A camaraderie blossomed and knowledge was shared through a simple (by today’s standards) communication system. There followed the acquisition of land at Stockbridge for our very own nature reserve and access to Thornton Moor Reservoir, and Marley Sewage Works was granted by Water. A six-monthly publication and website were launched, and the !1 new technologies were harnessed to enable the Group to communicate with its members. Through our monthly meetings we were able to inform and enthuse the growing membership with talks given by visiting speakers and occasionally from our own knowledgable colleagues.

And so to 2016 and the latest Report, in which you will find details of 180 species compiled from 19,000 records contributed by 58 individuals and two organisations (Calderdale Birders and Naturalists’ Society). The latter groups, with whom we have a reciprocal agreement, supplied 4,000 records, leaving 15,000 submitted by birders in the Bradford area. However, this impressive haul has to be commended with some caveats. Only 25 individuals, a quarter of the membership, submitted more than 10 records. Our aims, firmly established by that nascent Group in 1987, committed us to produce an Annual Report that reflected the status of birds in our Pennine area. Without that information, gathered and shared amongst ourselves and with a wider national audience through the YNU and BTO, we are in danger of falling short of those commitments.

Despite the low response from members, this year will be remembered for some excellent records; none more so than two species which were seen in the area for the first time. A female Black Grouse was watched during the autumn at Slippery Ford and a Cetti’s Warbler appeared at Snaygill in November. Record flocks of 130 White-fronted Geese, along with 39 Brent Geese arrived at Lower Barden Reservoir on 11th November and a couple of scarce Berwick’s Swans graced Moor Reservoir a day later. A flock of 90 Arctic Terns flew north- east over Barden Moor in May and there were increased numbers of Mediterranean, Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls on our moorland reservoirs. Perhaps the most surprising change has been the massive increase in the number of Herring Gulls which reached a total of 7,550. Breeding birds included Grasshopper Warbler and Ring Ouzel; Turtle Dove was recorded in May.

Other outstanding reports included a Hoopoe near Barden in June, Garganey and Wryneck on passage and two Hawfinch in a garden in February. It was also the first time that all five British grebes have been recorded in the same year, but sadly Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has declined still further and Yellowhammer was again absent, though it was seen on a number of occasions at Weeton, tantalisingly close to our region.

Last year I asked for more support in the production of the Report and thankfully four members responded: Keith Moir, John Armstrong, Martyn Priestley and Brian Sumner. My thanks go to them for their valuable contributions, with the reminder that in just nine months time the whole process begins once more!

Paul King

!2 CLASSIFIED LIST OF SPECIES FOR 2016

MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor Common resident breeder.

Twelve double-figure counts were about the same as last year but the highest total of 16 at Wetland was well-down. This site and the nearby provided most of these higher counts, with only two at Yeadon Tarn and one at Knotford Nook. The pattern of sightings suggests the same birds might have been involved in all of them. Smaller numbers were seen at St. Ives, Harold Park (), Park Dam (Low Moor), Dowley Gap, , Redcar Tarn, , Caldene Fields, and near Leathley. As last year, some birds carried Darvic rings or tags, six of which were red and eight yellow. The members indicate all but one were different birds from those seen in 2015.

BEWICK’S SWAN Cygnus columbianus Scare passage visitor

Regular coverage of the site by the observer was rewarded with the discovery of a pair of these splendid swans on Keighley Moor Reservoir on 12th November (IH). The first record since 2011 of this increasingly scarce species.

Bewick’s Swans on Keighley Moor Reservoir. photo: Ian Hargreaves WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus Uncommon but regular passage visitor.

The number of birds seen in 2015 are unlikely to be surpassed, so this year should be more fairly compared with 2014. At 32, the numbers of records is the same, and the possible total of 368 birds compares very favourably with the then record count of 326. A caveat on the totals is in order, however, as, without details of the timings, it is impossible to say whether some counts of passing birds could be duplicated.

The biggest numbers in spring were seen in March, always a good passage month, comprising 20 at on the 13th, and 38 over Trough Lane () and 42 over Keighley four days later. The two big counts of

!3 returning birds were both from Watchpoint: 25 on 20th October, and 30 the following day.

Smaller numbers were seen at or from a wide range of locations: Marley Hall Farm, Swinsty, Chelker, Keighley Moor, March Ghyll and Lindley Wood Reservoirs, Caldene Fields, Moor, Oxenhope Watchpoint, Horton Bank Top and Cononley Ings. The total counts were 20 in February, 116 in March, 10 in April, 18 in October, and 49 in November.

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus Seen regularly overflying on passage, and occasionally as a winter visitor.

After a significant drop in numbers in 2015, this year saw a return to the sort of considerable total now expected. The figure taken from the submissions is 13,900, and even if this is adjusted to take account of possible duplicate sightings, the revised total of 12,400 is still impressive. Compared with last year, there was a significant drop in the proportion seen on relocation in the first three months, which at 20% of the total was just a fraction of the numbers of arriving birds noted in autumn.

Totals of more than 100 were counted on 28 days, with 2nd November producing 1,400 birds past Oxenhope Watchpoint and 900 at Caldene Fields. There was also a report of around 700 birds moving up the Aire Valley, but it is likely these were also seen from Oxenhope. As ever, these two watchpoints contributed greatly, and for once their counts were similar: 3,800 at Oxenhope, and 3,500 at Caldene.

Up to three birds were seen from January into the early part of April, mainly associating with Greylags, at Cononley Ings, Leeshaw, Shipley Glen and Fewston Reservoir.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons Scarce autumn/winter visitor

With only two records since 2008, this species remains very scarce in the area, so any sightings are noteworthy. What makes 2016 particularly special is the amazing record flock of 130 birds that arrived at Lower Barden Reservoir on 11th November (RC). They provided a repeat performance to another observer when they flew over the outskirts of Skipton a week later (HC), but weren’t reported again.

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser Common resident breeder, and passage visitor.

This goose remains widespread and in good numbers, but the 13 three-figure counts were better-distributed than last year, with Cononley Ings, , Leeshaw Reservoir and Kildwick Ings coming into the picture. This last site had 280 birds in December, but the biggest counts continued to come from the more traditional locations, as 430 were present at Lower Barden Reservoir in February and between 300 and 400 at Denton in September. !4 Proven breeding occurred at 12 sites (about the same as last year) and of the approximately 180 young seen, 30 were at each of Keighley Moor Reservoir, Barden Moor and Kex Gill, 24 at Otley Wetland Nature Reserve and the remainder from (Manningham), Strid Wood, Dowley Gap, and the reservoirs at Scargill, Leeshaw, Fewston, Thornton Moor and Chelker.

This and earlier years’ records indicate the birds’ wandering tendencies, confirmed by the data obtained on a bird seen at in October showing that it had been ringed at Lake Windermere on 28th June.

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis Common resident breeder.

This goose was again widely reported, and 18 three-figure counts from 11 sites is much as last year. Most of these were in the south of the area, and provided totals of between 123 and 200 from Lister Park, Saltaire, Redcar Tarn and Cononley Ings, and particularly impressive totals of 313 at Caldene Fields (a visible migration count on 12th October) and 483 at Leeshaw on 2nd August. The latter might have included birds from a maximum count of 00 birds at and around Warley Moor Reservoir on 7th July, a Group record (BS). Elsewhere, Otley Wetland had a count of 103, and Fewston, John o’Gaunt’s and Thruscross Reservoirs between 130 and 163.

Within the Warley Moor total was included some 100 goslings, and this represented just over a half of the reported breeding successes, of which only 19 young were seen in the formerly prolific Wharfedale and Washburn areas (a downturn first noted in the 2013 Report). The balance comprised juveniles seen with parents in , and at Keighley Moor Reservoir, Yeadon Tarn and Heaton, where the same site appeared to have been used for four or five years.

BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis Probable escapee and uncommon passage/winter visitor.

A bird seen at Warley Moor Reservoir on 8th April and 24th July was thought to be the regularly returning individual.

BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicia Scarce passage visitor

Part of a double with the White-fronted Geese, a flock of 39 on Lower Barden Reservoir on 11th November was the Group’s highest ever count, and only the third record in the past 17 years (RC).

EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiacus Scarce visitor/possible escapee

What may well have been the same pair was seen on the Washburn Valley reservoirs on several dates between July and October. Specific sightings were at John o’Gaunt’s on 25th July and 31st October (JPo, WNS), Scargill on 29th !5 August (JPo), 11th and 28th September and 2nd October (AJ, WNS, SR), and at Fewston three days later (WNS).

RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea Scarce vagrant and possible escapee

A probable male was with Canada Geese at Otley Wetland on 27th June (WNS).

SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna Passage/winter visitor and occasional breeder.

When conditions are right, Cononley Ings and the fields at nearby attract passage Shelduck, and 10 of this year’s records come from here. Silsden had five different birds up to 14th January, and Cononley the remaining early records, with 18 birds noted between 27th January and 3rd April, including high counts of six on the first date and seven on 8th March. Cononley had the year’s final records of singles on 17th and 22nd November.

Seven other sites had most of the remaining reports: Otley Wetland - a single on 12th April Leeshaw - Three on 6th May and 10th June, and five on 22nd and 26th September. Norwood Bottom - One on 20th May Ogden Reservoir - Four flew over on 30th May Redcar Tarn - Six very young juveniles on 15th July Warley Moor Reservoir - A single on 31st July Keighley Moor Reservoir - One on 8th September

The remaining record concerns the small Low Lane Pond at , where a pair were seen on 12th March, and had 10 downy young on 29th May.

MANDARIN DUCK Aix galericulata Increasingly common winter visitor and breeder.

The fluctuations in wintering numbers of this showy little duck continue, and the 2015 downturn has been halted, as this year, following a steady increase in October and November, a maximum count of 122 birds was made in Strid Wood on 4th December.

The territorial expansion noted in last years’s Report goes on, and this was accompanied by a welcome upturn in breeding successes. Nests or young were seen at nine sites, mainly, but not exclusively, in Wharfedale and the Washburn Valley, and comprising , Norwood Bottom, upstream of Barden Bridge, Knotford Nook, Otley, Clifton, Valley of Desolation, Buck Wood (), and Esholt. Some 59 ducklings were seen.

Other sightings away from the Upper Wharfedale stronghold came from Cononley Ings, Leathley, , Burley, Addingham, Scargill Reservoir, and the southerly outpost of Ogden Reservoir.

!6 WIGEON Anas penelope Regular passage migrant and winter visitor.

As usual, most of the sightings were in the winter months, and almost all the big numbers were seen at the usual sites of Cononley Ings and Otley Wetland. At Cononley the January numbers were around 270, in line with the latter part of the previous month, but increased to 330 in early February. Returning birds were around this figure in November, but increased to 450 on 22nd December, just short of the 2015 record. Otley Wetland’s biggest count of 160 on 10th February was in line with 2015, and 109 birds were there on 14th December. Knotford Nook, formerly a regular spot for large numbers of Wigeon, only came into its own in December, and culminated in an excellent count of 170 on the 27th.

Apart from several double-figure assemblies at Otley Wetland, John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir had 60 birds on 8th November, Lindley Wood 80 on 26th October, in addition to which September brought presumed passage birds to Redcar Tarn (11), Scargill (19) and near Leathley (36), and 12 were at Silsden Reservoir in December.

Small counts were made on odd dates at Esholt, Yeadon Tarn and the reservoirs at Thornton Moor, Keighley Moor, Hewenden, Ogden and Chelker.

GADWALL Anas strepera Uncommon but regular winter visitor.

For a bird which is abundant not far to the south of us, Gadwall remains stubbornly uncommon in the recording area, and no birds were recorded before mid-September. Apart from four birds at Knotford Nook on 27th December, records were of ones and twos at Park Dam, Harold Park, , Otley Wetland, Ogden and Toad Holes Beck. These last two reports are notable for the species’ scarcity at the first location, and previous total absence from the second.

TEAL Anas crecca Common passage and winter visitor and occasional breeder.

This was one of the better years for Teal, as, in addition to the expected large numbers at Cononley Ings, there was a site record count of 165 at John o’Gaunt’s on 27th December and double-figure groups were reported from seven other widespread locations.

At Cononley, 265 were present on 2nd January, and the second winter period had a maximum 350 on 19th November, with fluctuations to the year-end, when 200 were seen. The principal double-figure counts were 47 at Thornton Moor in October, and, in November, 50 near Leathley and 62 at Fewston Reservoir. Totals of between 21 and 27 were counted at Warley Moor, John o’Gaunt’s and Ogden Reservoirs, and near . Fifteen other locations had fewer than 10 birds, the least regular of these being Addingham Moorside, Park, Hewenden and Lower Laithe Reservoirs.

!7 Birds were seen during the summer months, but there was no suggestion of breeding.

MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos Common resident breeder; passage/winter visitor.

Seen in numbers throughout the year, Mallard remains manifestly abundant, and continues to be a prolific breeder.

Between 100 and 105 birds were counted at St. Ives, Redcar Tarn, Lister Park, Lindley Wood Reservoir, and Yeadon Tarn, with higher counts of 160 at Ogden, 150 at John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, 213 on the Wharfe at Strid Wood, and 258 at Fewston. A total of 163 ducklings were recorded from 16 sites, with the biggest aggregates 10 at Yeadon Tarn and Otley Wetland, 15 in Strid Wood and at Dowley Gap, 16 at Reservoir, 22 in Otley, and 33 at Keighley Moor Reservoir.

The count at the latter location comprised parties of 9, 11 and 13, which clearly weren’t raised at the reservoir, and the observer eventually realised that birds breeding higher up the moor used the water as part of an easy route to bring their young down into the valley. The Otley total includes 20 which bred on two garden ponds.

PINTAIL Anas acuta Regular passage and occasional winter visitor, usually in small numbers.

A male Pintail at Ogden Reservoir. photo: Brian Sumner

!8 The improvement seen in 2015 was, alas, not maintained, as this year was back to a total of 12 birds from five records, all but one originating in the south-west of the area. September provided a single on Redcar Tarn on the 8th (IH), and three birds over Queensbury on the 19th (BS). A month later four flew west at Keighley Moor Reservoir on 20th October (IH), and two birds then spent two days at Ogden from 13th November (CJK, BS), and two on the final day of the year at Knotford (AJ).

GARGANEY Anas querquedula Scarce passage visitor

Recorded for the second successive year, a female or juvenile was at John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir on 18th August (AJ).

SHOVELER Anas clypeata Passage/winter visitor in small numbers; has bred.

Cononley Ings again provided most of the records. On 2nd January eight birds were present, and had been replaced by four different individuals twelve days later (KM). In the second winter period, a drake was seen on 22nd and 23rd November (BV, KM). The remaining reports all came from the south of the area, with a drake at Park Dam on 20th March (N&DP), two birds there on 9th October (JB) and a female on Ogden Reservoir on 15th and 17th September (BS).

POCHARD Aythya ferina Increasingly uncommon winter visitor.

The days are long past when upwards of 100 could be seen in the recording area on a single day, and we are now dependant on a handful of sites for a small number of birds.

Yeadon Tarn provided most of the records, and up to five birds were here in January, and six in February, but in the second winter period only one was noted on single dates in November and December. One bird was generally also the best that could be mustered from the other locations, namely Redcar Tarn in late February, Otley Wetland in March (though with two in April) and Knotford in late December. Again all were seen only on a single date.

TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula Passage/winter visitor and increasing breeding resident.

Birds were seen throughout the year from Kex Gill in the north to Wibsey in the south, but from a limited number of locations, and only five sites featured regularly, and with the biggest day counts: Yeadon Tarn 38 (1st January) Lister Park 40 (27th March) Otley Wetland 48 (23rd January) Redcar Tarn 44 (11th December) Knotford Nook 38 (31st December) !9 Large totals were also seen at three others spots, Silsden Reservoir, Harold Park and , which had respective maxima of 37, 31 and 36. However, the pattern of sightings and fluctuations in numbers at the main well- watched locations gives rise to the possibility that a limited number of mobile birds may be involved.

Breeding again took place at Kex Gill, where eight young were present, there were 10 ducklings at Pennythorn, and a total of nine small young were noted at Lister Park, Carr Bottom Reservoir (Burley Moor) and John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir.

COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra Uncommon, but regular passage visitor.

A better than average year, with 10 records, involving a total of 20 birds. Apart from a bird on Leeming Reservoir on 11th January (MS), all the records were of autumn migrants, and all originated from the west of the area. Leeshaw produced three drakes on 2nd July, a single on the 5th, and two birds on 13th August (N&DP). Thornton Moor had a single drake on 28th July, increasing to two on 3rd August, and to three on the 7th and 8th (BS, KM, CJK). The three other sites to feature were Silsden Reservoir, where two birds were seen on 12th and 30th August (BV), Redcar Tarn, which hosted a drake on the 28th (KM), and Warley Moor Reservoir: a male and three females on 10th September (CB, BV).

GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula Common winter visitor.

Generally speaking, this year follows the trend of the smaller flock sizes reported in other recent years. A count of 33 birds at Otley Wetland was the best of 10 double-figure counts there. Only Knotford Nook’s 19 birds in December got anywhere near this, and the only other significant congregations were parties of 12 and 16 at Silsden Reservoir, and 13 at Chelker.

Birds were seen at all the usual regularly reported locations, with 40% of the records originating from Otley Wetland and Knotford, and only a single at Tong Park Reservoir on 20th November ranks as unusual.

GOOSANDER Mergus merganser Common resident breeder and winter visitor.

Although again generally well-recorded from many lakes, reservoirs and water- courses, this was another year where collective numbers were well-down. It is difficult to evaluate the significance, however, as it is clear winter roost-watching is now little undertaken, if at all. In any event, a count of 34 birds at Redcar Tarn on 1st October was much the highest of only seven double-figure totals, with 16 birds at Harold Park in November, well ahead of the rest.

Displaying birds were seen as early as 13th January, and, in anticipation of the next season, had resumed by 10th December. Other signs of breeding intentions came from a bird regularly entering a Stock Dove nest-box at !10 Stockbridge, and another unwisely investigating one there already occupied by a Kestrel. Though breeding wasn’t recorded there, the presence of young indicated favourable outcomes at Otley (12), Myrtle Park (Bingley), and (both 7), Ilkley (16), (8), Strid Wood (4), and Esholt (11).

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa Resident, probably all from introduced stock.

Birds seen in the area are essentially those introduced for “sporting” interests. As such, they get very little attention, as witness the meagre 17 records, only four of which came from Group members! The only double-figure counts were from localities where introductions have certainly taken place, namely Barden Fell which had up to 13 birds, and near Warley Moor Reservoir, 15.

Birds are now being more frequently seen at Slippery Ford, on the edge of Keighley Moor, and one observer has suggested this might be connected to a decline in the local Grey Partridge population. This may be worth monitoring.

RED GROUSE Lagopus lagopus Resident breeder

Well-reported on moorland in all parts of the area, but with an apparent contrast in the abundance of birds in the north and some parts of the south.

At Keighley Moor, one observer was informed by the keeper that 2016 had been a very poor breeding year, and only small numbers of birds were recorded there. However, elsewhere double-figure counts were made more or less throughout the year, mainly from moorland to the north of the recording area, but also from Warley Moor, where up to 30 birds were seen. Notably, Barden Moor had counts of between 20 and 116, Barden Fell around 45, and Rombald’s Moor 45. Smaller counts came from Bradup, Middleton Moor and Burley Moor.

Some breeding probably went unreported, but specific successes were noted on Bingley, Hawksworth, Barden, Baildon and Moors, and near Skipton.

BLACK GROUSE Tetrao tetrix Rare vagrant

Given this species’ sedentary nature, and the distance from the nearest known population, the discovery of a female at Slippery Ford on 25th August has to represent the year’s most remarkable record, and a Group first (IH et al). Though largely absent until 8th October, it was then regularly seen until 14th December. The bird’s origins must remain a mystery, as extensive research by the finder failed to establish known local populations or introductions.

!11 GREY PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix Resident breeder.

Fewer records this year, but birds were seen at 21 locations, although the same general areas continue to predominate, with 80% of the 44 reports originating from the south of the area. Ones and twos were the norm, but higher numbers included six at Thornton Moor and nine at Bully Trees (), and breeding successes seemed to be rather better than in 2015. A pair was seen with seven chicks at Glovershaw, and family parties of up to fifteen at Warley Moor and fourteen at Burley Moor were noted.

As mentioned elsewhere, at one location in particular the recent encroachment by Red-legged Partridge could be forcing out the native species.

PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus Resident breeder.

This is not a bird to to get many birders’ pulses racing, so a tally of 175 records is most impressive. As last year, the larger counts came from areas where managed birds were present, notably Baildon Moor, which had between 18 and 49, John o’Gaunt’s (31), Otley Wetland (22), and Heights Lane (Bingley) (16). Unusually there were also a good number of reports from areas with apparently free-roaming birds, but numbers struggled to get into double figures.

There were no breeding records from the managed areas, which would, in any event, be fairly academic, but chicks from apparently ‘free’ stock were seen at and Keighley Moor.

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo Locally common passage and winter visitor. Occasional breeder.

Though 180 records confirms Cormorant’s common status in the area, fluctuating numbers make meaningful comparisons with some earlier years difficult. Very large gatherings are, however, clearly a thing of the past, though a count of 50 birds at Lindley Wood on 1st November is the joint highest for 10 years. The only other locations featuring double figures were Otley Wetland, which had several counts of up to 27 birds, Ogden Reservoir (17 on 8th August), and Thornton Moor, where 20 birds passed on 18th July. The fluctuations are perhaps exemplified by birds recorded on migration: Oxenhope’s seasonal count of 44 is well down on other recent years, whereas Caldene Fields’ total of 69 was 40 up on the best of the preceding four years.

However, to set against these fluctuations, it is pleasing to record that for the first time in the Group’s history, breeding was confirmed by the discovery of 10 nests at Lindley Wood (PRo). The use of tree sites tends to suggest that the birds were of the Continental race P.c.sinensis, and there is a school of thought that suggests many inland residents are now of this race. In any event, birds showing the appropriate characteristics were seen at Otley Wetland, Lindley Wood, and a private site.

!12 LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta Uncommon passage migrant.

After several false dawns, this year’s records, involving at least 16 birds, indicate that the anticipated breakthrough of a species becoming relatively common just to the south of us, may be about to happen.

With the exception of two birds over the Oxenhope Watchpoint on 2nd October (DCB, HC), all the records involve singles. Wharfedale and adjacent areas had over half of the reports, with Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits featuring in March, November and December (WNS, SP), Lindley Wood Reservoir, Otley Wetland and John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir in August (AJ, PD&JBP, SR et al) and Chelker Reservoir in October and November (MW, WNS et al).

Airedale and the contributed records from Bingley in January (CW), Esholt Sewage Works in September (CP), Keighley Golf Course in November (JM), and, in December, Silsden (RC), Leeshaw (BV), and near Marley (MS). Finally a bird at Caldene Fields in early December represented the first in the Low Moor area (MP).

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea Common resident and colonial breeder.

A similar pattern to last year, with about 160 records, in the main reporting ones and twos at suitable wet places across the area. The more significant counts came from Shipley Glen, where between seven and 10 birds were noted, Otley Wetland which had a maximum of five, and Leeshaw which had the same number a couple of times.

In the absence of any word about the previously productive colony at Askwith, breeding data was confined to a site in the Washburn, and one at Harden. The first had much more success than last year, as nine nests had 22 eggs (with at least one juvenile being seen), and the picture at Harden was similar to 2015, there being eight occupied nests.

SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia Addition to 2015 Report Scarce passage vagrant

Two flew over Whetstone Gate on 21st December, to provide an aggregate of only five birds since 1991, but the second record since 2012 (RC).

SLAVONIAN GREBE Podiceps auritus Scarce winter and passage visitor.

A bird passing Oxenhope Watchpoint on 20th October was seen sufficiently well to be identified as this species (DCB, HC). It became the 10th record.

!13 BLACK-NECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis Scarce autumn/spring visitor

A single bird at a private site during the whole of October is the ninth Group record (AJ, PD&JBP).

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis Fairly common resident breeder, winter and passage visitor.

Little Grebe and two chicks at Park Dam. photo: Nigel Priestley

A good spread of records came from 23 sites across the area, but numbers seen were generally ones and twos, apart from at three places. These were Park Dam, which had a maximum of eight, the river near Hirst Wood four, and, most notably, John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, which had several double-figure counts, and a maximum of 16, the highest for many years, on 10th September.

Breeding was well down on last year, and associated activity was noted only at a site near Leathley, Kex Gill, Park Dam and John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir. Success was noted at the last three, with, specifically, five young seen at Park Dam and two at Kex Gill.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus Common resident breeder, and winter visitor.

A disappointing year, both for numbers of birds and breeding success, which were down on 2015. Reports came from a good spread of locations in Wharfedale, the Washburn Valley and the south of the area, even including, on two occasions, Keighley Moor Reservoir, a spot devoid of food or shelter for the

!14 species. However, the only totals of any significance were six birds at Yeadon Tarn in January, and seven there in June.

Displaying birds were seen at Park Dam, and nests were in evidence at Lindley Wood, Otley Wetland and Chelker, but the only successful outcomes were at Park Dam, where three young were seen, and Harold Park where there were four young.

RED-NECKED GREBE Podiceps grisgena Scarce winter and passage visitor.

A splendid summer-plumaged bird was an excellent find on 10th September at John o’Gaunt’s, where it remained until the 17th (AJ et al). The eighth Group record of a species not seen since 2009. It is also of major significance as, coupled with the previous species, it results in the first occasion when all the five British grebes have been seen in the Group area in the same year.

RED KITE Milvus milvus Resident and scarce breeder.

The reference in last year’s Report to possible under-recording seems to have galvanised contributors, as this year an excellent 240 reports were received, which is all the more impressive bearing in mind that few records now originate from the formerly prolific Barden Scale.

Other recent Reports have alluded to the exponential rise of this impressive raptor following the introduction scheme, and groups of up to five or six are now almost the norm, so this Report will restrict itself to mention of nine at Denton, eight birds taking advantage of a recently cut field near Hawksworth, the same number in the Washburn, and a record count of 17 birds at a roost there on 6th March (AJ).

Despite the spread of Red Kite, it is still a scarce bird south of the Aire, and the few reports were of singles over Queensbury (twice), Marley Hall Farm, Keighley Moor, Warley Moor, Tong and the centre of Bradford. Elsewhere, birds are commonly seen over the suburbs, as typified by the many reports from Otley.

All but one of the breeding records came from the ringer associated with much other breeding data. At two nests in Wharfedale only one of the two young survived, but 17 young were raised from six nests in the Washburn. At the other location, there was no direct evidence of breeding success, but food-carrying to a known nest was observed.

MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus Uncommon but regular passage visitor.

Nine birds were recorded, much in line with the two previous years, and most were seen at two locations. At Barden Scale, “cream-crown” birds (at least one thought to be a juvenile) were seen on 13th April, 1st July and 4th September, and were clearly on passage (all BV). In the west of the area, the moorland !15 where potential breeding activity took place in 2015 produced most of the remaining records. A 2nd-calendar year female was regularly seen between 10th May and 4th June, followed by “cream-crowns” on the 17th, and on 7th September, and a juvenile moved south-west on 15th August (all IH).

The only other sites involved were Lippersley Pike, where a female was seen on 13th January, and Addingham Moorside, where there was a juvenile on 26th August (both WNS).

HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus Increasingly uncommon passage and winter visitor.

Once again, there was no evidence of long-term wintering birds, though all the records originated in the autumn and winter months, and all concerned “ringtails”. In the early months, a single bird was seen around Rombald’s Moor between 7th and 13th January (PD&JBP, MB, SR et al), and February produced individuals over Keighley Moor on the 11th (IH), and near Burley on the 14th (TK). The 11th February bird was thought to be the radio-tagged “Highlander” seen here in October 2015.

The remaining records concerned apparent passage birds. Barden Scale had singles on 22nd September and 18th October (BV), at Oxenhope Watchpoint individuals passed through on 1st October and 1st November (DCB, HC), and others were around Keighley Moor on 17th October (RN) and 3rd November (IH), the latter another satellite-tagged bird.

Of particular note were records from another moorland of between one and five birds from 11th November to 21st December, probably involving about eight individuals in all (AJ).

GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis Scarce resident/passage visitor

The Group’s 1997 Report referred to it as being “the worst year in a long time for spring display”, notwithstanding nearly 20 observers submitting records of up to 20 birds! Such is the species’ decline locally that this year’s one record is the lowest ever: a female near Otley on 14th February (PRo).

SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus Common resident breeder.

Though the 130 records represents a drop of 35% in the last two years, the data received indicates the species is well-established in a range of suburban as well as rural environments, and reports from the suburbs now account for 60% of the total. One of the attractions here is, of course, the presence of garden feeders, of which several birds took advantage, successfully predating a Dunnock, Greenfinch and a young woodpecker. A bird at Otley was less successful, as the Blackbird it was pursuing flew down onto the road in front of a following car, successfully avoiding the hawk and the car! Autumn watches at Caldene Fields

!16 produced 25 records of 35 birds, though some of these might, of course, have been local residents.

Breeding was fairly evidently under-recorded. There was only one report of display, and the single report of definite success referred to a nest with three young in the Washburn, with just a record of a juvenile near Keighley indicating possible local breeding there.

COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo Very common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor.

In the 30 years the Group has been operating, this raptor has gone from a single record in 1987 to being one which richly justifies the epithet “common”.

With some 300 records, 2016 was in line with other recent years, but represents an increase in real terms, as fewer reports are now received from the known stronghold of Barden. Moreover, every part of the area, including urban and suburban areas, is now represented, and reports are no longer dominated by Wharfedale and the Washburn Valley. Against this background, it is unsurprising that a conservative estimate would indicate at least 230 birds were seen.

The maximum count was nine birds at Whetstone Gate in February, and between six and eight birds were noted from Middleton Moor, the Washburn, and the Barden/Bolton Abbey area. Visible migration watches accounted for totals of 21 birds past Caldene Fields and 22 from Oxenhope Watchpoint, and there were many other reports of birds evidently on passage.

Breeding success was particularly well-reported (thanks largely to the work of the assiduous ringer, PRo), and 18 pairs raised 31 young in the northern sector, with another five pairs in the south indicating potential breeding activity. However, given the probable number of birds in the area, it is still likely that breeding overall is under-recorded.

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus Uncommon but regular passage visitor.

Sixteen records of at least that number of birds represents the best return in 10 years, and all parts of the area participated.

Spring passage produced two thirds of the records, starting with birds at Barden Scale on 25th and 26th March, followed by at least one in the area on 3rd April, and another 10 days later (all BV). This period was particularly productive, as three presumably different birds were seen on the 4th, over Hazlewood Moor (RN), Queensbury (BS), and Bradup (SR), one went over Beamsley Beacon on the 5th (WNS), and Queensbury had another bird on the 8th (BS). This period of movement was completed by sightings at Scargill Reservoir on the 13th (SR), and over the Sladen Valley near Stanbury on the 19th April (IH).

The return movement started with a relatively early record of a bird over Bingley Moor on 10th July (PW), but there was a seven week wait before the next bird !17 was seen on Keighley Moor on 26th August (IH), quickly followed by singles on the 28th at Barden (RN) and Oxenhope Watchpoint (DCB, HC), with the final record one over the Aire Valley on 7th September (IH).

KESTREL Falco tinnunculus Common resident breeder/passage migrant.

Whilst some 200 records are reasonable (though 20% down on last year, and nearly 50% down on 2014), there were scarcely any reports of pre-breeding activity, far fewer breeding successes, and, in general, smaller numbers of birds were seen. This was almost certainly due, as mentioned by one observer, to it being a poor vole year, following a very wet winter.

Kestrels at . photo: Paul Marfell

Twos and threes were generally the best on offer, and only a family party of four at Slippery Ford, the same number relocating at Caldene Fields, and five seen at Esholt broke this pattern. As for breeding, even the work of the regular ringer in Wharfedale and the Washburn was less rewarded, as this year’s total of 12 young compares with last year’s 51. The only other breeding successes recorded was of two young raised at both Slippery Ford and Salts Mill, but a very young bird seen at Addingham had presumably local origins, though the birds occupying a box at Stockbridge weren’t reported to have succeeded.

!18 MERLIN Falco columbarius Uncommon resident breeder and passage migrant.

For the first time in many years, not only were there no specific breeding reports, but there were only two records of display flight from different moorland areas, though a juvenile seen at one of them on 16th August was perhaps suggestive of local breeding. This particular bird seemed to be less savvy than the young Pied Wagtail it was chasing, which seemed to use the observers as protection, by diving into cover right next to them, causing the falcon to veer away.

Reports from three other moors were generally just of single adults, but an adult and possible juvenile were seen together on one occasion. A total of 10 birds passing Oxenhope Watchpoint between 28th August and 3rd November were clearly transient, and took advantage of the ready supply of passerines moving at the same time.

HOBBY Falco subbuteo Uncommon but regular summer visitor/passage migrant.

With only six records, this was a well below average year, and, surprisingly, there were no reports from Upper Wharfedale. Spring sightings were of single birds near Yeadon Tarn on 1st June (MB), and the Lower Washburn Valley on the 10th (AJ) and 16th (PRo). Six weeks later on individual was noted at Slippery Ford, on 27th July (IH), and the remaining reports were of birds in August, at Timble Ings on the 5th (WNS), Keighley Moor Reservoir on the 18th (IH), and at Otley Wetland on the 29th, where a bird pursued Swallows round a mist-net (WNS).

PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus Resident and occasional breeder; passage/winter visitor.

The 42 records received are much in line with 2015, but well down on many past years. A sign of changing times is that nearly 90% of the reports came from the south of the area: a complete reversal of the picture 20 years ago. Only a handful of sightings from Otley Wetland and Barden Fell upset this near- monopoly.

There having been several years with good breeding successes, the cupboard this year seems bare, though there were tantalising reports of birds at previously established sites. A pair was seen on the Keighley chimney used in earlier years, but not after mid-February, and they were also present at another long- used site up to the middle of the year at least, but at neither did they appear to breed. No birds were seen on the Bradford chimney where there have been sightings in the past, but a male was seen soaring and displaying in the general area in early April. More intriguing was a record of a pair soaring over moorland on 16th May (which the observer considered might be failed breeders), to be followed by a record of a juvenile male on the same moor three weeks later. However, a colour-ringed juvenile here in late August was believed to have originated from Lancashire.

!19 WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus Uncommon but regular winter visitor.

All but six of the 20 records came from the regular location of Stockbridge Nature Reserve, where a single bird was heard or seen on seven occasions between 16th January and 31st March, and, in the second winter period, seven more times from 9th October to the year-end. Up to two birds were at Otley Wetland in January, February and November, and there was a record of a single on the unusual date of 28th August. The other record was of a bird which chanced its luck and ran (safely) across the Addingham by-pass.

MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus Resident breeder.

Birds were seen at 45 locations, similar to last year, but only Harold Park, with 10 on 14th February, had double figures. However, the number of breeding sites was similar to 2015, and much the same places were involved: Caldene Fields, Sun Lane Nature Reserve (Burley), Redcar Tarn, Ilkley, Esholt, and John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir. Nineteen young birds were seen.

COOT Fulica atra Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor.

This species continues to be well-reported from several widespread sites, and many current observers will probably consider birds are seen in respectable numbers. In reality, however, they are a shadow of the totals seen 30 and even 10 years ago. In the late 1980’s the highest winter site count was over 500, it was still nearly 400 in 2001 (with many other three-figure totals), and Otley Wetland and Knotford Nook continued to host three figure flocks as recently as 2006. In contrast this year’s tally was 40 birds at Knotford, and other double- figure counts of between 10 and 37 came from the now-regular and well-watched Redcar Tarn, Harold Park, Park Dam, Otley Wetland, Yeadon Tarn, and Lister Park. Of these, all but Knotford had breeding birds, raising a total of about 44 young, and a further three small young were seen at John o’Gaunt’s and six at Toad Holes Beck.

OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus Common migrant breeder/passage visitor.

Birds were again seen in early January, west over Stockbridge on the 7th, and perhaps the same bird at Cononley Ings on the following day and the 10th. Three more birds were seen between the 12th and the month-end, and 25 records in February showed the push was well-advanced. These reports included 90 birds at on the 25th, the year’s highest count at what is clearly a regular stopover for the species. There was also counts of 40 and 56 here in March, and only totals of 28 at Bolton Abbey in February, and 29 at Leeshaw in June came anywhere close. Birds were seen in every month to August, but by then sightings were petering out, and there were only 12 individuals seen in all. An isolated record then came in November, with a single

!20 near Barden Bridge on the 13th, which could have been a wintering bird, or perhaps a very early one returning.

Birds were seen possibly or definitely occupying territory at , Weecher, Barden, Glovershaw, Shipley Glen, Scargill and Slippery Ford, but definite breeding was only established at the last, where a family party was seen, though birds’ behaviour at Scargill suggested they had bred there as well. At all the other locations where breeding was proved, no pre-breeding activity had been noted. These were Addingham, Otley Wetland, Kex Gill, , Burley, and Hawksworth Moor. Some 10 young were seen.

DOTTEREL Charadrius morinellus Scarce passage visitor

After a good run of records in the 1990’s, this species has become distinctly irregular, so a report of three birds at Draughton Heights on 22nd April was most welcome (WNS).

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

The first day of the year saw 40 relocating over Soil Hill, and by 14th January, 215 were at Silsden Ings, with much movement witnessed across the whole area until the last week in April.

Golden Plover. photo: Keith Allen

!21 Birds were back on territory on Burley Moor by 20th February, and others were subsequently seen at Whetstone Gate, Keighley Moor Reservoir, and Bingley, Burley and Hawksworth Moors. Breeding was successful at these last three sites, and at least six young were raised.

As last year, there were no reports of the particularly large wintering flocks that used to occur around Scargill Pasture, and, though there were 25 three-figure counts, the only ones of 300 or more consisted of 300 at Scargill Reservoir on 31st October, 350 on Reva Hill on 20th April and 400 on on the 14th of that month. By April, birds are well into breeding plumage, so it is possible to identify the distinctive Northern birds. These were seen at Reva Hill, Withins Head, Cononley Ings and Moorside Lane (near Oxenhope) where it was considered all 140 birds present in early May were of this race.

Unsurprisingly, almost all the records come from moorland and pasture, so a report of birds roosting on a Bradford warehouse roof in December is interesting and noteworthy.

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola Fairly irregular and scarce passage migrant.

A single bird passed Oxenhope Watchpoint on 17th October (DCB, HC).

LAPWING Vanellus vanellus Resident breeder/passage and winter visitor.

The 380 reports were well up on last year, and are reflected in the many large counts of birds in winter and post-breeding flocks, as well as significant aggregations of birds on migration.

All the four-figure flocks this year were seen in both winter periods at Cononley Ings, where the wet meadows attracted 1000 birds on 4th January and 2nd February which had increased to 1,450 five days later, and 1,250 were back on 16th November. Sixty-two gatherings of 100 plus birds were recorded, of which most were fewer than 500, but exceeded this at Denton in February and Otley Wetland in December, where 600 birds were present. In all, 17 sites had these larger gatherings, comprising eight in the south of the area, and nine in Wharfedale and the Washburn. Those featuring regularly were Chelker Reservoir, Thornton Moor Reservoir and Redcar Tarn, and two Bradford locations were notable for having rooftop roosts.

Obvious breeding pairs were widely distributed on suitable habitat during spring and summer, but only at Glovershaw was there mention of a specific 25 pairs, though ‘several’ pairs were referred to at Slippery Ford. At the first location nine young were seen, and at least another 30 small young were observed, 20 of them at Bradup, and the remainder at Leeshaw, Redcar Tarn, Hawksworth Moor, Stanbury and Barden Moor.

!22 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charadrius dubius Passage visitor and uncommon migrant breeder.

Somewhat mixed fortunes for this wader this year. Birds were seen at 10 locations, comprising five in both the north and south, and attempted to breed at three of them. At the first southern location, four pairs constructed nests, but chicks were produced at only one of them, and the original four quickly dwindled to one survivor. At the other site in this area, the one nest’s eggs were predated, and at the location in the north two clutches were both predated, though a grown immature was reported on 6th July. Given the date, this could, of course, have been raised elsewhere.

The presence of these nesting birds makes assessment of the numbers of transients difficult, particularly as at one site, birds might have commuted elsewhere, and returned. It is probable, however, that in addition to the breeding birds, at least 33 others passed through the area.

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius haticula Passage visitor and erratic breeder.

Untypically excellent shoreline conditions at Thornton Moor contributed greatly towards a better return of 32 records, about 50% up on last year, which resulted in at least 40 individuals being seen, twice as many as in 2015. These conditions attracted passage birds down in numbers, and six were seen on 12th and 21st May, with between one and five birds on 15 other dates to 2nd September.

Only five other locations featured. Singles were found at Leeshaw Reservoir on 18th March, and Lindley Wood Reservoir on 13th July, a bird flew past Oxenhope Watchpoint on 23rd September, two arrived at Keighley Moor Reservoir on 5th June, and up to four were at Warley Moor between 20th and 25th March.

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus Uncommon passage migrant.

This year was rather better than other recent ones, with 11 birds from nine records, and fewer than usual based on the familiar calls of overflying birds.

Two birds went over Warley Moor Reservoir on 11th April (CB), and one passed through Trough Lane (Denholme) on the 13th (HC). The other spring records comprised a bird at Thornton Moor on 16th and 17th May (KM), and one at Leeshaw on the 29th (BS). Both these sites provided return passage records, with an individual at Thornton Moor on 10th July (CJK), and two there on 28th August, plus further singles at Leeshaw on 14th and 15th July (all BS). The picture was completed by a bird over the Washburn Valley, not a regular location, on 26th July (AJ).

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

Reports of proven breeding were confined to only six sites, Keighley Moor, Slippery Ford, Askwith Moor, Glovershaw, Valley of Desolation and Timble, with a total of around nine young birds seen. However, the 40 records of pairs and pre- breeding activity at 22 other locations indicate this aspect must be under- reported.

A Curlew in Upper Wharfedale. photo: Roger Nelson

The first presumed relocating birds were two at Cononley Ings on 7th January, and by February flocks of between 115 and 320 were seen in the Aire Valley, the highest count being at Cononley on the 22nd. Around the same period other good counts came from Otley Wetland and Knotford Nook, which had 100 birds on the 11th and 23rd, and John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, where 120 birds were seen on the 27th. The wintering flock centred on Denton and Ben Rhydding was present at both ends of the year, and had the year’s highest count of 327 birds on 29th January.

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

A passage bird at Low Moor on 20th June was a welcome local record (MVP), whilst another at John o’Gaunt’s between 15th and 23rd August was at a more expected location (WNS, AJ, SR et al). This same period also produced a further individual at Thornton Moor on the 17th of the month (CJK).

!24 RUFF Philomachus pugnax Uncommon passage visitor.

In a reasonable year, it is likely at least nine different individuals were involved, although five of these were in one party at Snaygill on 26th November (BV). The rest were all seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir, and comprised a male on 11th to 14th August (MC, BS, CJK), and probably three different females between the 18th and 21st (KM, BS).

SANDERLING Calidris alba Uncommon and irregular passage migrant.

May is a typical month for this species, and a bird was found at Thornton Moor Reservoir on the 9th (KM).

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

Thirty-five records constitute a reasonable return by present standards, though all but 12 of them came from Thornton Moor Reservoir, where the favourable conditions played a major part. The variable lengths of stay by passage birds makes the year’s total count difficult to assess, but it is unlikely to be fewer than 55.

At Thornton Moor, spring passage started with seven birds on 10th May, and from then to the 29th there were between one and five birds on many dates. The return movement had smaller numbers, and the highest A local Dunlin. photo: Brian Sumner tally was three in early July and late August. Nearby Warley Moor Reservoir had the year’s first two birds on 29th April (and other ones and twos in the following two months), closely followed by one at Queensbury the following day, whilst Keighley Moor had a scarce single on 4th May. Another bird passed there in September, and Oxenhope Watchpoint also had two on passage. A contribution also came from Redcar Tarn, where one was seen on 14th December, and the south’s monopoly was broken only by two birds at Lower Barden Reservoir on 5th July.

Whilst two of the birds seen at Thornton Moor engaged in courtship display, there was once again no evidence of breeding. !25 COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos Migrant breeder/passage migrant.

As last year, about 100 records were submitted, and, after the first sighting of the two birds at Thruscross on 11th April, there were reports from across the area, with some 23 sites involved, though Thornton Moor Reservoir had over 20% of the records.

Reports generally involved ones and twos, but several locations had up to six birds, and Warley Moor Reservoir lead the way, with counts of nine and eleven in early May, and a total of 12 birds were seen on the Washburn reservoirs in the same period. Attempted breeding was suspected at Leeshaw and Lindley Wood, and was proved at Kex Gill, Riddlesden, and the reservoirs at Thornton Moor, Lower Barden, and Keighley Moor. At least 10 young were seen, and the presence of other unseen chicks was indicated. There was little evidence of return movement, and the final bird was seen at Stockbridge on 11th September.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus Increasingly uncommon passage migrant and occasional winter visitor.

Even by recent standards, a very poor year, with just two records. A bird at Keighley Moor Reservoir from 1st to 4th August (IH), was followed by another at Lindley Wood six days later (WNS).

GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia Increasingly uncommon passage migrant.

Seventeen records and about eleven birds is a welcome upturn on recent dire years, but numbers are still well down on those which could be routinely expected in the 1990’s. In spring, two were at Ogden Reservoir on 11th and 12th May (BS), and autumn passage produced a run of records at John o’Gaunt’s and Lindley Wood Reservoirs. At the first location, up to two birds were present between 21st and 29th August (AJ, JPo, WNS), and at the latter, individuals were recorded on the 25th, and on 2nd, 11th and 12th September (AJ, IH, KM). Thornton Moor Reservoir also produced birds: two on 1st September, and a different bird carrying blue and white Darvic rings the day after (KM, BS).

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

A strange year, with considerable numbers of migrants seen, particularly in spring, but breeding a dismal shadow of 2015. As is often the case, the first returning birds were seen in the Aire Valley, where there were two at Cononley Ings on 22nd February, and by 14th March a couple of birds were in the uplands at Warley Moor Reservoir. Many widespread sightings then took place in the rest of the month through to early June, with six birds being seen on four occasions at Leeshaw and Thornton Moor. This site had the year’s highest count of 12 on 11th May, and the ideal shoreline conditions resulted in a spring passage total of

!26 up to 40 birds. These conditions continued into autumn, and 10 birds passed through.

Birds were fairly widely reported from a range of potential breeding habitats, but this was recorded only on Bingley Moor and at Kex Gill, with a pair being apparently on territory at Glovershaw. This compares with last year’s 22 possible breeding pairs, and at least five juveniles, a slump which is unlikely to to be due, if at all, to weather conditions.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres Infrequent passage visitor

Four birds is a reasonable tally for a less than annual species, and all were seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir. A single on 19th May (KM), was followed by three on 19th August (BS).

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

Whilst only five observers submitted reports from five sites, as many as 30 individual birds could have been seen. This bird is clearly a migrant in the area, rather than a winter resident, and the pattern of sightings at the regularly watched spots tends to indicate birds move on fairly quickly. As such, it is unlikely this figure is overstated, but, even allowing for some element of this, the number seen is comfortably a Group record.

The sightings at the three main locations were; Soil Hill: Singles on 18th March (CB), and in autumn, 16th and 24th October, 4th, 5th, and 12th November (BS). Braithwaite Edge: Singles on 15th and 18th October, 5th and 27th November, and 4th and 17th December. Two birds were located on 14th October and 8th December (KM). Apperley Bridge: Singles on 20th October, 5th and 6th November, and 8th December. Two were present on 30th November, and 6th December, and an excellent four on 22nd October (KM).

Elsewhere, a bird was flushed at Tong Park (Baildon) on 3rd November (D&MS) and there was an unexpected record of one passing Caldene Fields on the 17th (MVP).

WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola Resident breeder, passage /winter visitor.

A reasonable number of records for a species which, for much of the year, isn’t easy to see. The best opportunities arise when birds are performing roding display flights over their territories in early summer, and there were several reports from the regular sites at St. Ives, Barden Moor, and the area around Norwood Edge and Stainburn Forest. Subsequent breeding success is particularly difficult to establish, so the local ringer did well to locate a nest with six eggs at Denton. Numbers seen were generally twos and threes at best, but !27 four were reported from near Queensbury, and there were said to be good numbers in the lower part of the Washburn Valley.

Elsewhere individuals, several of them accidentally flushed, were seen at Timble Ings, Ogden, Raw Nook, Askwith Moor, Draughton Heights, Marley Hall Farm, near Barden and Redcar Tarn, and around Bolton Abbey. Unusually birds were reported flying over gardens in Ilkley and Keighley, and here the observer considered the bird had been flushed from a local wood by weekend walkers.

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

Well-reported, and in every month, though there was a noticeable lull between May and July. The 14 double-figure counts included several gatherings of over 20 birds, all in the periods when they were clearly on the move, and comprised 22 at Apperley Bridge in January, a minimum of 26 at John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir in late October, 23 at Bingley Bog (North) on 15th November, and at Braithwaite Edge 26 and 33 in October, and 32 on 12th November. This last site had a total of 340 passage birds between October and December, Apperley Bridge had 102, and 136 flew past Oxenhope Watchpoint between late August and early November.

By and large, pre-breeding activity and breeding success was limited to a few records by a small number of observers. On Baildon Moor, display was noted on several occasions at Pennythorn and Glovershaw, and at least six pairs were around the second site. Activity was also seen at Bradup, Keighley Moor Reservoir, Eldwick, Burley Moor and Withins Head, but only at the last three was there reference to breeding though without any specific details.

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo Passage and summer visitor and uncommon breeder.

A fairly typical year was enhanced by the first report of successful breeding since 2011, when partly grown young were seen at Otley Wetland in June. This site produced most of the records, and after the initial sighting on 6th May, between four and six birds were noted on several dates until 6th July.

As often, the first returning birds were found at Yeadon Tarn, where two were present on 22nd and 25th April, and 8th May, and the remaining sightings involved other probable passage birds at a range of locations. Singles were seen at Redcar Tarn and Thornton Moor Reservoir in late May, at Ogden on 6th June, and Leeshaw in early July, with the final record a bird over Cottingley on the 16th.

ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisea Uncommon passage visitor

Just one record, but the flock of 90 birds seen flying north-east over Barden Moor on 11th May is comfortably a Group record (KM).

!28 KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla Uncommon passage/winter visitor

Recorded for the second successive year, after nothing since 2010. On 14th February, two birds were seen, one at Otley Wetland (TK), and the other in the Thornton Moor roost (CJK). The second winter period then had two at Leeshaw Reservoir on 21st November (JL per BS).

BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus Common resident breeder and abundant passage/winter visitor.

This gull continues to be very well-reported, the 400 reports being 50 up on 2015’s excellent tally. These provide ample evidence of how common the species is throughout the year, right across the area, and in a wide variety of rural, urban and suburban habitats.

As expected the biggest numbers are seen during the winter months and when migration is in full flow, and the records included 92 three-figure aggregates of up to 800 birds. Several of these referred to roosts, and all the four-figure totals related to these or pre-roost aggregations. Thornton Moor had two counts of 1,500, one of 2,000 and another of 4,000, pre-roost gatherings on a warehouse roof in Bradford peaked at 1,500 and 4,000, and visible migration watches at Oxenhope produced a particularly high day-count of 3,500.

Confirmation of these gulls’ movements in winter came in the form of colour- ringed birds seen at Redcar Tarn: one seen on 15th December had been ringed in June 2016 as a nestling in Berkshire, and another, first seen at the tarn in October, 2015, was present again on 27th September, and had been ringed in Norway.

The long-established breeding colony at Upper Barden Reservoir was said to be large, but, unfortunately, there were no specific details of numbers, or breeding successes.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus Uncommon but regular winter and passage visitor.

After the past two years, when numbers recorded were in single figures, 2016 produced 10 birds, more in line with the totals for the three years prior to 2014. Unusually, all but two of them were sub-adults. Six locations were involved: Redcar Tarn: An adult was seen on 10th February (MD) and on 21st August there was a juvenile, which remained until 6th September (KM et al). Leeshaw Reservoir: The year’s other adult flew west on 19th May (KM). Thornton Moor Reservoir: Juveniles were present on 20th July (KM) and 18th August (KM, BS), with a 2nd-summer three days later (BS). Cullingworth Fields: Two juveniles on 19th August (KM). Lower Laithe Reservoir: In the same productive period, a juvenile/1st-winter was seen on 30th August (KM).

!29 Brown Royd (Bradford): A 1st-winter in a pre-roost gathering of Black-headed Gulls, carried a red Darvic ring, indicating East European origin. It was present on 12th and 13th October (KM).

COMMON GULL Larus canus Very common passage/winter visitor.

This species is much less common in the area than Black-headed Gull, and records come mainly from the winter months and both migration periods.

The 11 three-figure counts comprised between 100 and 200 birds, the latter a roost at Thornton Moor, which site also had the only four-figure totals of 4,000 on 26th November, and 2,000 on 17th December. The possibility of further high roost counts was precluded by the absence of information from the usually productive .

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus Common passage migrant and occasional breeder.

After a good year in 2012, there was a lull, but 2016 saw a return to form, with considerable numbers of birds and the first breeding records for 19 years.

The south of the area produced just about every record, and, even allowing for intensive watching there (though by a handful of observers), it is clear the species remains genuinely scarce north of Airedale. As usual, most records relate to the months between May and October, when birds are relocating, and during this period there were 46 three-figure counts, and two of four figures. All of these came from just three places: Cullingworth Fields, Thornton Moor Reservoir, and the nearby Oxenhope Watchpoint. At Thornton Moor, 1,050 birds were present on 28th June, and 1,400 on 22nd July, and the three-figure counts from the area included seventeen of between 500 and 800 birds. Oxenhope had an impressive seasonal migration total of some 3,400, whereas the comparable total at Caldene Fields which often mirrors Oxenhope’s records, was no more than 200.

Close observation of birds enabled 68 to be identified as dark-mantled Continental - intergrades, and 19 showed characteristics of the even darker mantled L.f.intermedius.

There have been no breeding records since a few pairs at Upper Barden Reservoir in 1997, the former large colony on the moor having died out in 1993. It is therefore remarkable to get two reports from different locations this year. At Keighley Moor Reservoir, three chicks appeared on 24th June, when the regular local observer had been totally unaware of any breeding attempt. They continued to be fed by the parents, and apparently fledged. Possibly more remarkable was the other record, as it involved a mixed colony of this species and Herring Gull on a Bradford warehouse roof, the first time birds have bred in the Metropolitan District, and in an urban environment. The location made assessment of numbers and breeding success impossible, but it is considered

!30 about 25 pairs may have been involved, and from the three visible nests, one produced two young to the flying stage.

HERRING GULL Larus argentatus Increasingly common passage migrant and winter visitor and occasional breeder.

This year was significant in terms of both quantity and quality. Recent Reports have documented how the annual total has built up from 150 birds reported in 2012 to 2,903 last year, the best total since the last local landfill site closed in 2000. This year’s total is a staggering 7,550 birds, which probably compares favourably with any year since the Group’s formation, though the data in past Reports doesn’t enable a direct comparison to be made.

The increase is probably due to a genuine expansion in the mainly wintering and transient population, rather than greater coverage, as gulls continue to inspire little interest in many birders, and 80% of the total was documented by a single observer. Numbers were concentrated on four principal sites, all in the south of the area, from which almost all the records emanated. The broad details are:

Total Highest Month Highest Day Count

Cullingworth Fields 2,964 1,289 (December) 110 (December)

Brown Royd 1,242 323 (December) 37 (December)

Thornton Moor 1,746 380 (August) 62 (September) Reservoir

Redcar Tarn 600 230 (December) 71 (December)

Aside from these, the only other three-figure totals were 148 birds flying over Leeshaw on 19th June, and a local record 339 migrating past Caldene Fields on 31st October. One of the Cullingworth birds seen on 4th November carried a yellow Darvic ring inscribed Y998, and turned out to have been ringed near York just over three weeks earlier.

The quality aspect has already been alluded to under the previous species. The colony referred to had probably around 50 adult birds, and a number of fledged juveniles were seen over the course of the summer. Herring Gulls bred in very small numbers at Upper Barden Reservoir in five years between 1992 and 2000, but this represents the first breeding of any significance, the first in the Bradford Metropolitan area, and the first in an urban environment.

In view of the recent lurid and alarmist media coverage on Herring Gulls, the good citizens of Bradford can be assured that no pets were attacked or babies eaten!

!31 YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis Increasingly common and regular passage migrant.

Following its being given full specific status, rather than a sub-species of Herring Gull, records started to appear in 1992, and have increased ever since, to the point where, with this year’s tally, the gull can almost be regarded as common in the area. That said, all the reports came from south of the , and are attributable to just five observers.

Almost all the sightings relate to the period between late June and early September when birds accompany the many Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing through the area, and there were only three records outside this, a 1st-winter bird at Redcar Tarn on 31st January (MD), and adults at Cullingworth on 6th March and 31st December (KM).

Thornton Moor Reservoir remains the main and most intensively watched site, and nearly 60% of the records came from there. Given the transient nature of all the gulls in the main period, it is impossible to say with any accuracy how many different birds were involved, but it is probable there were at least 43. In July, all the birds were adults, but by August (when most birds seen were recorded) there were also sightings of at least four juveniles, a 1st-winter, a 2nd- winter, and 10 3rd-summer birds. The largest single count was of six birds on 11th August (KM, BS, CJK, MC). A Yellow-legged Gull at Lower Laithe Reservoir on 24th July. photo: Keith Moir Redcar Tarn had two 2nd- winters in July, and two juveniles in August, Brown Royd a 1st-summer in June and three different 1st- winters in August and September (KM), and a sub-adult, possibly one of the Thornton Moor contingent, was seen at Ogden in September (BS).

At Leeshaw Reservoir, the bird first seen in 2014, and now in 3rd-summer plumage, returned for its third successive year. It paid a brief visit to nearby Lower Laithe Reservoir, but was otherwise faithful to the site between 9th July and 21st August (BS, KM).

!32 CASPIAN GULL Larus cachinnans Scarce migrant/possible winter visitor.

Following the Group’s first records in 2014, another three, possibly four, birds were found this year. A 1st-winter at Redcar Tarn on 2nd, 4th and 7th February was thought to be the same bird seen there in 1st - summer plumage on 31st May. Different individuals were a 2nd-summer bird at Brown Royd (Bradford) on 8th August, and a 2nd-winter at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 7th September, the latter being the Group’s eighth record (all KM).

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus Increasingly uncommon passage and winter visitor.

A similar picture to last year, with 17 records producing 22 birds. As such, this gull has gone from being abundant 20 years ago, when over 500 birds were seen in January alone, to ranking as the scarcest of our ‘regular’ big gulls, and even falling well behind Yellow-legged Gull.

Visible migration watches at Oxenhope and Caldene Fields accounted for eight birds, four were seen at Cullingworth Fields, and the other ten were noted at Silsden Ings, Brown Royd, Redcar Tarn, Barden Moor, Bingley and Thornton.

The apparent increase in Herring Gull numbers has not been mirrored by this species, and there are no grounds for thinking that the situation will improve.

FERAL PIGEON Columba livia Abundant urban breeding resident.

Urban flocks in Ilkley and Otley regularly numbered about 50, but at Lister Park and (Bradford) there were often three-figure counts. At the latter location, 150 were noted in July. Elsewhere, a disused mill property in Shipley was used as a roost and Brackenhall Farm (Baildon) and Long Liberty Farm near John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir attracted small flocks.

STOCK DOVE Columba oenas Resident breeder.

Although relatively common, large flocks are only seen during the winter months. This is borne out by the 39 in Cullingworth Fields in November, 28 at Ogden Reservoir in November and 17 at Heights Lane (Bingley) in December. Other notable counts were reported at a variety of sites, but breeding was only successful at Slippery Ford and Glovershaw, where juveniles were seen in late summer. It was at the former location that a post-breeding flock of about 20 was disturbed by a Sparrowhawk on 4th September.

WOODPIGEON Columba palumbus Resident breeder, winter visitor, and abundant passage migrant.

Nearly 500 reports, 30% of which were double-figure counts, continued to chart the proliferation of this species, Parks, gardens, woodland, moorland, lakes and !33 river edges all feature strongly. The only places immune from this onslaught at the moment, appear to be town and centres. Five reports indicated breeding activity and at a site in Bingley, two juveniles were seen. During the autumn migration watch, 80,000 were recorded. Though still considerable, this number was down by 25% on the figure set in 2014. For the record, 25,000 were counted across the watchpoints as they flew towards the south west on 2nd November.

COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto Increasingly uncommon resident breeder.

A slight increase in records probably masks the fact that this dove has declined as a ubiquitous species, now more limited in its range and habitat. Breeding pairs were seen in spring around the settlements at Faweather Grange and Birch Close, in Harold Park, in parkland in Queensbury and in a Baildon garden. A breeding pair in Addingham was seen with a juvenile, but a pair in Thornton was less fortunate as the brood was discovered dead.

Winter roosts of 30 birds near Yeadon Tarn and 21 at C a l d e n e F i e l d s w e r e Collared Dove. photo: Nigel Priestley impressive, and it was at this latter location that a flock of 44 was seen on 19th November heading towards the south west.

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur Scarce passage visitor

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 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

!34 hole at Northcliffe and further afield there were sightings of singles at Yeadon Tarn, Otley Wetland NR, Ogden Reservoir, Highfield (Keighley) and Esholt.

CUCKOO Cuculus canorus Migrant breeder.

An early start, with birds reported from both Fewston Reservoir and Burley Moor on 15th April, being the first of the year. Although this species is more likely to be reported by members than most others when encountered, a total of 90 reports from about 40 locations, suggests quite a good year. However, most reports refer to single singing males, with a maximum of three birds on any occasion. Most records were from upland and moorland areas, with Burley Moor, Ilkley Moor, Harden Moor, Barden Moor and Fell, Heber’s Ghyll and Shipley Glen accounting for 50% of all records between them.

Subsequent to the first reports, the species was reported regularly up to 12th June, after when records fell right away. There were a couple of records only of juveniles, and hence successful breeding, at the end of the season, from Hazlewood Moor and Ogden Reservoir, which on 2nd August was the last report of the year.

BARN OWL Tyto alba Uncommon resident breeder.

This species is currently undergoing a positive transformation in the area, aided by the provision of nest boxes, and which will hopefully continue in the future. No less than 82 reports were submitted, compared to 65 in 2015, which was itself a record at the time. Just 10 years ago in 2006 by comparison, no Barn Owls were seen at all in the recording area!

It was reported from about 30 locations with frequent reports from the Bradup area, Glovershaw, Thruscross Reservoir and Bolton Abbey. Successful breeding, with young raised, whether using nest boxes or natural sites, occurred at Denton Moor, Timble village, Kex Gill and Clifton. At Stockbridge NR, a female laid eggs, but these were unfortunately abandoned and didn’t hatch. Breeding may also have occurred at Marley Hall Farm, Scargill Pasture, Timble Ings, Burley and Addingham.

LITTLE OWL Athene noctua Common resident breeder.

The most-reported owl species in the year, with 96 records, in all months of the year, in mostly upland areas. Dry-stone walls, and old half-dead isolated trees are the best places to look for them.

Reported from about 32 sites, with Bradup / Whetstone Gate, Walsh Lane, Pennythorn, Leeshaw Reservoir, Glovershaw / Sconce, Withens Head, Heights Lane and Harden Moor attracting the most reports. Breeding was suggested to have occurred at Addingham, Denton, Sconce and Bradup. Most records were

!35 of course of single birds or pairs, however four birds were seen at both Harden Moor on 10th April and Heights Lane on 14th August.

TAWNY OWL Strix aluco Common resident breeder.

There were 71 records submitted in 2016, in all months, mostly referring as usual to calling birds at night, with relatively few being seen. Reports came from about 30 sites (including a single Ben Rhydding garden which produced about 20% of the records), with breeding having been proven or suspected at Weston, Denton, Esholt, Farnley, Timble Ings, Clifton and Middleton Woods. As this is a species which is more likely to keep you awake at night than be seen while birding, it is likely that only a small proportion of those encountered are reported, and it is likely to be far more common in the area than Little Owl, despite fewer records being submitted.

LONG-EARED OWL Asio otus Uncommon resident breeder.

A total of nine records, at least three of which appear to involve breeding birds, although recorders have understandably been reluctant to divulge information which could threaten this beautiful species.

Reported from the Soil Hill, Sandwith Moor, Timble Ings and Queensbury areas. No reports of any winter roosts were submitted.

SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus Uncommon resident, winter visitor and occasional breeder.

A reasonable year, with 31 records. It was seen fairly consistently in all months between January and July, but, coinciding with a crash in the vole population, there were no submitted reports at all for the last five months of the year.

The majority of reports came from the Bradup/Whetstone Gate area of Rombald’s Moor (with up to four birds in January and February), and from Keighley Moor Reservoir. All other reports involved single birds or pairs. Other occasional reports came from Graincliffe and Warley Moor Reservoirs, Withins, Kex Gill, Langbar, Round Hill, Soil Hill and Trough Lane. Although it was present in the breeding season at a couple of locations, no reports have suggested that breeding took place in the year.

NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus Scarce summer visitor.

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 !36 conclusions (JA, AJ, WNS). 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 (WNS).

SWIFT Apus apus Migrant breeder and passage visitor.

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.

KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis Fairly common resident breeder.

Another popular favourite bird so well reported throughout the area with no fewer than 112 submissions with a variety of habitats including streams, rivers, canals , dams, reservoirs, lakes, gravel pits, parks and even a garden pond. This is clearly a thriving species becoming a regular if not common sighting being reported every month of the year, and the vast increase is probably down to the recent mild winters with only short periods of frozen waters giving the birds a good chance of surviving over this period. More unusual sightings this year were six birds flying east at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits on 8th October and a bird visiting a garden pond in Shipley Glen regularly on the 1st.

There was one breeding record and this illustrates the species’ determination. It came from Denton, where a pair had their first five eggs predated only for them to go on and have a second brood of five young and a third brood of another five.

HOOPOE Upupa epops Rare vagrant

A great find near Barden on 26th June, a bird was seen briefly but well enough for all the diagnostic features to be noted (JR). This is the fourth record and the first since 1995 and Hoopoe is still to be seen by a Group member.

WRYNECK Jynx torquilla Rare passage migrant

Migration watching again paid off on 8th October, when one was found at Oxenhope Watchpoint (HC). This is the seventh record, the previous one being at the same place in 2010. All records have been in either September or October, and this is the second latest. !37 GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis Fairly common resident breeder.

A seemingly good year, with 98 records, in all months, from 34 sites. Perhaps most records however, are of unseen yaffling birds. Other than adults with young, there were no records of more than two birds together.

Breeding records came from Farnley (an adult feeding three young on 3rd July), Harden Moor, Slippery Ford, Sandwith Moor and Kex Gill. The other dominant sites (though without proven breeding) were Barden Bridge/Strid Wood and Shipley Glen, with at least four records also from Ogden Reservoir, Menston, Cullingworth and Esholt.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopus major Common resident breeder. A juvenile Green Woodpecker. By far the most frequently seen photo: Roger Nelson woodpecker, with 162 records submitted, covering all months, and many sites right across the area. Breeding was reported from the Leathley area (at least four nests), Stainburn Forest, Middleton Woods, Dob Park Wood, Baildon, Menston, Norwood Bottom, Slippery Ford and Esholt, and it may also have occurred at another nine locations where drumming was heard between February and April. A frequent visitor to feeders, including ones in private gardens. Such records were submitted from Bingley and Yeadon.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopus minor Very uncommon and erratic resident breeder.

This species, which although never very common, appears, very sadly and inexplicably, to be heading towards oblivion in our region, much as it is in other parts of the UK. Just three records from Knotford Nook and the Lower Washburn Valley.

As a sobering comparison, the 2006 report, just 10 years earlier, refers to 38 records from 12 locations.

!38 GREAT GREY SHRIKE Lanius excubitor Addition to 2015 Report Scarce winter/passage visitor.

A bird in full view of the observers, swooped into a nearby tree during a migration watch at Oxenhope Watchpoint on 18th October (DCB,HC).

MAGPIE Pica pica Abundant resident breeder.

Winter roosts of this maligned but showy species were very much the highlight amongst the 350 records. Over 30 birds gathered at a Station Road (Queensbury) roost in January and 43 were seen together at Ogden Plantation in February. Elsewhere there were double-figure reports at Dowley Gap, Yeadon Tarn, Doe Park Reservoir, Hewenden and Shelf Moor during the first months of the year. There were no breeding records, but family parties were noted at Heights Lane (Bingley) and Glovershaw in late summer.

JAY Garrulus glanarius Resident breeder.

The species appears to have been seen in most of our deciduous woodland, usually in pairs and often whilst noisily defending territory. Such a squabble in Shipley Glen involved up to eight birds in early spring. There were many parks and garden records, particularly where woodland is close to houses, and in one case an adult with two juveniles visited an Ilkley feeder. Birds were also seen relocating at Pennythorn (Baildon) at the end of August and at Caldene Fields Watchpoint in September. At this time, an observer witnessed a Long-eared Owl being mobbed by this aggressive species.

JACKDAW Corvus monedula Resident breeder and winter visitor.

The customary three-figure counts from observers during the winter months could not surpass the huge flock of 670 in the Prune Park area of Allerton Road on 22nd March. A typical flock was around 100, according to records from Heights Lane, Brackenhall (Shipley Glen), Knotford Nook and Strid Wood. Breeding was reported at Buck Park Quarry (Denholme), on Baildon Bank where over 30 nests were seen, and on chimney stacks in Byron Mews (Bingley) and Ilkley. A post-breeding flock of over 400 was occasionally watched on Sandwith Moor in August and another, of similar size, where adults were engaged in feeding juveniles, was seen at Glovershaw in July.

ROOK Corvus frugilegus Resident breeder.

Seven rookeries were identified; the largest at Bolton Abbey contained 50 nests, with about 60% occupancy. Another sizeable community was near John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir and this one contained 23 nests. Others at Home Farm (Esholt), Utley, Heights Lane and at the crossroads at Menston, although smaller, were all significant congregations. Post-breeding flocks of up to 70 birds were !39 widely reported and there was a winter flock of over 125 in the fields above John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir. Nor is this species a stranger to gardens, as a pair, nesting close by, made an attempt to extract food from a bird table.

CARRION CROW Corvus corone Resident breeder.

Only about 15% of the 450 reports involved double-figure sized flocks. The largest of these occurred at Sandwith Moor Plantation, where roosts of over 100 were seen in late July and August. In early spring, feeding parties of about 50 regularly used the fields at Gallows Hill (Otley) and the filter-beds at Esholt. The largest winter gathering was in fields around Redcar Tarn, where 125 were seen on 22nd December. Males in a flock of 18 near Yeadon Tarn, in the first week of January, were actively displaying. This was the only reference to courtship and breeding amongst this species.

RAVEN Corvus corax Increasingly common resident/scarce breeder.

The 60 reports - in line with last year - is a respectable total, and confirms that the species is well-established throughout our reporting area. Often reported jousting with Buzzards and corvids, and in one case clashing with breeding Curlews, this is a species that ranges far and wide. Although no specific evidence was submitted about a breeding site, adults with juveniles were seen in Upper Wharfedale, the Washburn Valley and over Keighley Moor.

GOLDCREST Regulus regulus Passage/winter visitor and occasional breeder.

An excellent year for this species with reports of sightings throughout the year excluding July. The plantation around the perimeter of Ogden Water produced the highest numbers with several counts of 20+ during October dropping to 15 then 12 during November. The only other double-figure count was 12 at Glovershaw on 5th August. Whilst the Ogden birds preferred alders Goldcrests were found elsewhere on garden lawns, in yew and plum trees as well as holly bushes whilst one was found at Timble Ings feeding alongside a flock of Crossbills.

There were just two reports of possible breeding with one bird gathering nest material from a garden in Ilkley on 27th March and the second near Toad Holes Beck on 28th April.

BLUE TIT Parus caeruleus Abundant resident breeder.

Although only a relatively small number of records, most of the attention is once more focused on the interesting breeding information received. Birds using holes in trees were watched in Heber’s Ghyll, Knotford Nook, and at various sites in the Washburn Valley, where juveniles were later seen with adults. In Shipley

!40 Glen, nests previously used by Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch had been taken over by Blue Tits.

Nest boxes in the north of the area again supplied us with detailed evidence of successful breeding. At 12 sites, 35 boxes were investigated and from 300 eggs, 233 juveniles were ringed (PRo). A box at Sun Hill Lane Reserve, Burley, had been abandoned whilst breeding was in progress and a similar situation was found at Stockbridge NR, where ten eggs were left by the adults.

GREAT TIT Parus major Abundant resident breeder.

Amongst the 300 records, many were the result of woodland walks in early spring when singing birds featured, with double-figure counts in Strid Wood, John o’Gaunt’s, Fewston Reservoir and the Hewenden area of Cullingworth.

Nests were identified in the eaves of a house in Lady Lane, Bingley, in the steel pole supporting a footpath sign at Slippery Ford and in natural holes in a variety of woods and gardens. From 16 nest boxes in the Washburn Valley, 79 juveniles were ringed. Unfortunately at one box, a female and her brood of five were found dead. The 12 boxes in Wharfedale produced 68 young.

COAL TIT Parus ater Resident breeder.

From the 90 records (50% more than 2015), there were just three double-figure counts, two from Ogden Reservoir, the first in October when there was a fall of about 20 birds and again in December, when 11 were seen in the plantation. A post-breeding flock of ten was counted at Timble Ings Plantation on 2nd September and single figures were recorded in Strid Wood, John o’ Gaunt’s and the Washburn Valley during the winter period.

Males were heard in Wharfedale and at the Valley of Desolation in spring and pairs were identified visiting gardens in Baildon and Bingley. A pair in an Addingham garden successfully bred, as two young were seen accompanying their parents.

MARSH TIT Parus palustris Scarce and decreasing resident.

There was only one record: two birds at the now regular site below Scargill Reservoir on 24th September (AJ).

SKY LARK Alauda arvensis Resident breeder/passage migrant.

A hardy upland bird with submissions received all months of the year excluding December totalling 103 sightings. Even though Queensbury has lost about a third of its breeding habitat over the years to housing development the majority of sightings still came from that area, with regular double-figure counts on Old Guy !41 Road cricket pitch and Soil Hill. Elsewhere birds started appearing as early as 28th January with sightings increasing throughout February. By 18th February, 14 birds were back on Soil Hill and singing nine days later. Another double-figure count was 12 on the golf course at Glovershaw on 20th March.

By late September birds were on the move with a total of 76 recorded from Oxenhope and 26 at Caldene Fields but two birds were still on Soil Hill on 12th November despite the extreme weather conditions.

There was no specific breeding data but most reported sites had singing birds and there were several records of food-carrying. Sky Lark. photo: Brian Sumner SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia Common migrant breeder/passage visitor.

Seven feeding over the sailing lake at Otley Wetland NR on 26th March, heralded the start of the influx of this species. Within a week, more than 40 were seen along the Wharfe at Ilkley and flocks were feeding over Yeadon Tarn, Knotford Nook and Park Dam (Low Moor). The traditional sites at Barden Bridge and Ben Rhydding were occupied by up to 12 pairs, and four nests were in use at Burley. Along the Aire, it was reported that about 20 nests were established at a very busy colony at East Riddlesden, and further east at Esholt five new nests had been established. Elsewhere, the nest site in the quarry on Harden Moor was again in use, and there was also a small breeding colony at Thruscross Reservoir.

SWALLOW Hirundo rustica Common migrant breeder and passage visitor.

A very early sighting at Burley-in-Wharfedale on 21st March was followed by three others during that month, all in the same area. On 4th April, a flock of 50 was feeding at Knotford Nook and two days later, there were reports that birds had been seen around farm breeding sites. At ten farms in the north of the area, 139 young were ringed at the 49 nests investigated; unfortunately, five of the nests at Norwood Bottom had been predated by Magpies.

Post-breeding flocks were well-documented with many double-figure counts recorded in August and September. At Brackenhall (Baildon), more than 180 birds gathered on 25th August, and two weeks later another 150 again sat along the telephones wires. During this period, about 750 birds were trapped at Otley !42 Wetland as part of a sustained programme of ringing (JM). Migration watchers recorded a steady movement southwards during this time, with the main departure being 1,453 on 10th September.

HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica Common migrant breeder and passage visitor.

A gathering of up to 200 birds over the filter-beds at Esholt and others of between 60 and 80 over Queensbury and Marley in late summer, were the largest reported. Other smaller flocks were recorded during migration watches in September. The colony of nests on Timble Robinson Library, now down to 14, produced successful first broods, and ten pairs managed a second round, each with up to five young. Breeding was attempted at two sites in Addingham, in Cullingworth and on buildings at Birch Close and Faweather Grange (Baildon).

CETTI’S WARBLER Cettia cetti Rare passage visitor.

A bird recorded at Snaygill on 31st October was a new species for the Group (RC). However, it has been anticipated as the species has been seen at Rodley Nature Reserve in recent years and breeds in the Wakefield area. LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalus caudatus Common resident breeder.

This is a well-reported and popular species, with over 150 reports. Winter and post-breeding flock sizes were noticeably down on previous years. The largest count, 21 at Otley Wetland in December, surpassed those at Hewenden in January, and at Ogden Reservoir at the end of August. Nest-building was confirmed at Raw Nook NR, where adults were seen feeding, at Stockbridge NR and Middleton Woods, where young birds were noted. Parties of up to ten birds, often in mixed flocks, were seen in gardens, visiting bird tables and hanging from fat-balls.

WOOD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix Uncommon migrant breeder/occasionally on passage.

Still no real signs of status improvement for this delightful warbler. In fact whilst records came from three sites the vast majority came from just one, its stronghold Strid Wood where on 28th April the first bird of the year burst into song. By 5th May this increased to five, and sightings continued from the site until 3rd July when a single was observed. However, there was no evidence of breeding. A final record was a passage bird at John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir on 18th August.

!43 CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita Common migrant breeder; passage and winter visitor.

An excellent array of 207 records received for this warbler. There were ten overwintering records received mainly in December with one on 23rd January from the Dowley Gap area. A Siberian Chiffchaff (P.c.tristis) was at Snaygill on 8th December (RC). The third Group record. Spring passage started in early March but it wasn’t till late in the month that birds arrived en masse. Breeding was underway in April with a pair nest-building at Raw Nook NR on the 22nd and by 5th May Norwood Bottom had 16 birds filling the air with song. Many areas like the Washburn Valley, Otley Wetland, Strid Wood, Knotford Nook and Thruscross Reservoir all reverberated to the welcome sounds of spring. Unfortunately, the many records did not translate into direct breeding evidence. However, family parties were noted at Beamsley Beacon, Sconce, Otley Wetland, Glovershaw and Toad Holes Beck. WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus Common migrant breeder/passage visitor.

Whilst high count figures for this species were slightly down on last year overall this warbler enjoyed a good year with eight sites reporting regular 10+ counts. The highest of these was 30+ passage birds moving past Ogden Reservoir on 8th October which coincided with a single in a Ben Rhydding garden. Spring passage got underway in April on the 2nd with two birds noted at Park Dam, but the main arrival started around the 10th and lasted till around the end of the month and the highest count was made in the Glovershaw area with 20+ on the 20th. Only two confirmed breeding records were received. However, many juveniles were reported in June and July from several sites suggesting breeding was widespread. BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla Common migrant breeder and passage/winter visitor.

This species carried on its over-wintering theme with 12 locations reporting sightings an increase on previous years. Spring passage probably began around 7th April with a singing male at Low Wood (Riddlesden) followed by further single males at Raw Nook NR, Middleton Woods and two males at Otley Wetland on the 12th had increased to four by the 14th. By May a good number of reports came in of singing birds with five at Bingley Bog (North) on the 14th and nine at Norwood Bottom on the 24th both noteworthy. Breeding was soon underway at many sites including the Washburn Valley, and a second brood was noted at Raw Nook NR on 7th July. !44 An interesting record and the highest count received came from Ilkley Tarn on 17th November with 10 noted either late returning birds or birds preparing to over-winter. GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

Like a number of warblers this species has a tendency to arrive in the first week of May and this year was no exception with the first sighting coming on 3rd May from Strid Wood followed by four birds at Otley Wetland (a stronghold for the species) and two at Low Wood (Riddlesden) all on the 7th. Norwood Bottom held three singing birds on 11th May. A walk along the riverbank at Wharfe Meadows Bridge and Leathley Bridge on 6th June produced a good count of six birds. A bird was observed carrying food to a nest site near to Bingley Grammar School on 12th June. The only reference to return passage came from Slippery Ford where a single (a site first) was with a party of Willow Warblers on 18th August. LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca Increasingly uncommon migrant and passage visitor.

Only three records received and all of probable passage birds. All these records came from the north of our recording area rather than the south, formerly a stronghold for the species. In spring, a bird was near Bingley Grammar School on 9th May (SR) followed three months later by one at Pennythorn on 10th August (PCK) and another at Slippery Ford on 6th September (IH). WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis Passage visitor/fairly uncommon breeder.

There was a reduction in records in 2015 but thankfully the species recovered slightly in 2016 with over 30 sites holding birds. The first week in May is a prime arrival time for this species and Stockbridge experienced the first song of the year on the 1st. Then by the 7th males arrived at many sites including Chevin Country Park, Esholt, Marley, Otley Wetland NR and Causeway Foot.

By early June breeding was underway with adults carrying food to nest sites at Harden, Chevin Country Park and Stockbridge, and the following month adults were seen with juveniles at Pennythorn. Probable breeding records also came from Low Moor and Snowden Moor. By early August birds were preparing to leave with two passage birds noted at a high elevation at Keighley Moor Reservoir on the 6th. The last bird was at Whetstone Gate on 29th September.

!45 GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia Uncommon passage migrant and occasional breeder.

Thirteen records from seven northern sites and a single confirmed breeding record suggests the species enjoyed a good year in our recording area. Perhaps most interesting are the ongoing sightings coming from the Shipley Glen area with a bird noted on 30th April (SR) in the same location where previous records have come from. Nearby, reeling birds were first seen and heard near Pennythorn in June and later carrying food to a nest amongst heather. This single breeding record was the first in the Group area for six years (PCK). Reeling birds were heard in June at Stainburn Plantation (CJK) and in July at Stockbridge NR (SR), near Shipley Glen (PCK) and at Otley Wetland where on the 23rd a bird was caught in a mist-net.

Grasshopper Warbler at Pennythorn. photo: Stephen Lilley

SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Increasingly uncommon migrant breeder/passage visitor.

Only a modest selection of records were received again this year from just five sites and no confirmed breeding was noted. The first bird to arrive was at John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir on 21st April which was followed by the main arrival on 9th May with four noted at Otley Wetland NR and singles at Fewston and Lindley Wood Reservoir. At the end of the month a bird was seen at Esholt on the 30th. The last bird noted was at Otley Wetland on 15th August.

!46 REED WARBLER Acrocephalus scirpaceus Scarce passage visitor/ regular but local breeder.

This warbler had an excellent year, with record numbers at Otley Wetland, and birds seen at four other sites.

After the first arrival at Otley Wetland on 6th May, 10 birds were present there on the 14th., a Group record (WNS), a single was seen at Yeadon Tarn on the 8th., and others were at Chevin Country Park on 8th. June, and at Menston on the 19th. In addition, there were six sightings at Stockbridge NR between May and July. At Otley Wetland, considerable breeding successes were confirmed by the ringing of 30 young there, and five adults were also ringed, producing the best ever breeding year for the species (JM).

WAXWING Bombycilla garrulus Irregular but numerous winter visitor

There were no records in the first winter period, but one, possibly two birds were seen passing the watchpoint at Oxenhope on 22nd October. This incident was the precursor to many more reports, as flocks in double figures were seen at many locations. These included regular sightings at Keighley Golf Course, where up to 100 were seen in December. Elsewhere, Ilkley, Stockbridge NR, Yeadon, Thackley and Timble Ings were amongst sites where smaller flocks were watched.

NUTHATCH Sitta europaea Resident breeder.

This species enjoys mature deciduous woodlands, particularly along the Aire Valley at Shipley Glen, Hirst Wood, St. Ives and Esholt where pairs were seen and heard in spring and in a few cases, with juveniles in summer. In Strid Wood nest building was observed in April and young were seen here and in woods and gardens in Ben Rhydding, Burley and near Leathley.

TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris Resident breeder.

This unobtrusive woodland species was reported on 66 occasions throughout the year, including the occasional garden record. Widely reported, with Strid Wood attracting the greatest number of reports. This is not a species which tends to flock, and the largest single count was of five birds at Strid Wood on one occasion. Evidence of breeding, in the form of nest-building or carrying food, was obtained from John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, Strid Wood, Shipley Glen and Low Wood.

!47 WREN Troglodytes troglodytes Common resident breeder.

Once more, this popular species has been well-reported, particularly in the Washburn, where over 60 were counted in spring in an area which encompasses John o’Gaunt’s, Blubberhouses and Norwood Bottom. Pairs were identified and subsequent breeding was confirmed at Slippery Ford, Weecher, Baildon and Timble Ings, where three juveniles were seen. On Denton Moor, five young were ringed, as were six others at a nest box in Dob Park Wood.

STARLING Sturnus vulgaris Resident breeder/winter visitor.

This was an interesting year, with large numbers recorded on migration, and enormous roosts seen in the north of the area towards the end of the year. At Timble Ings in November, up to 2,000, in a large tight flock, descended on the plantation, but at Otley Wetland in the middle of December, a murmuration, thought to be between 10 and 20 thousand, settled in the reedbed at dusk.

Post-breeding feeding flocks, with adults attending to young birds, often exceeded 250, but there were only a few reports where nest sites were located. This was the case at Norwood Bottom, where young were ringed from two nests.

Migration watchers at Oxenhope recorded 2,806 over a 28 day period, with the main thrust occurring on 22nd October, when 796 were logged. At Caldene Fields, the highest daily count was 1,014 on 22nd November, with 4,538 recorded over 21 days from 21st October to 25th November.

Adult and juvenile Dippers on the Wharfe. photo: Phil Matthews !48 DIPPER Cinclus cinclus Common resident breeder.

A very popular species with 98 sightings submitted throughout the catchment area with birds using a variety of habitats including rivers, streams, dams, lakes, reservoirs and sewage works. The species is clearly on the increase and is now a common sight with breeding proved at several sites along the Rivers Aire and Wharfe as well as other locations, and three broods were ringed during the spring in the Ilkley area. Unusual sightings were a bird in the conduit near Thornton Moor Reservoir and another in Lister Park.

RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus Uncommon passage and migrant breeder

Slightly more widespread than the previous year with reports from eleven locations though most of these were of passage birds moving through in the spring and autumn with only eight sightings during May, June and July. These records came from moorland in Upper Wharfedale and included two successful breeding attempts.

Breeding Ring Ouzel in Upper Wharfedale. photo: Brian Vickers

Spring passage sightings included the first back on 26th March at Paul Clough, several birds moving on Barden Moor and at least ten passing Slippery Ford up to 28th April, though only one bird was seen there in autumn, on 9th October. The last migrant was at Oxenhope Watchpoint on the 22nd.

!49 BLACKBIRD Turdus merula Very common resident breeder/winter visitor.

Over 500 records were received, confirming that it remains one our commonest and most popular species. Gardens in Addingham, Ilkley, Baildon, Bingley and a cemetery in Wharfedale were featured where breeding activity and juveniles were watched. We are used to seeing this species in many diverse habitats including on Keighley Moor where a pair were active on19th May.

The moorland fringes along Heights Lane (Bingley) and Middleton Woods (Ilkley) provided double-figure records in May, with Gallows Hill, Menston, Fewston Reservoir, Ogden Reservoir and each providing around 20 in the winter period. Juveniles were seen at Bolton Abbey, Thornton Moor and Weecher, whilst a total of 19 nestlings from five sites were ringed at Menston, Norwood Bottom and Timble.

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris Winter visitor and passage migrant.

There were numerous large flocks of between 75 and 100 amongst the 45 records covering the first winter period. A flock of 95 at Trough Lane (Denholme) on 2nd April and others at Moorhouse Lane (Oxenhope) and Leeshaw Reservoir in March were also significant. However, the largest gatherings were in the north of the area in fields by Barden Bridge, where over 200 were seen in January and another 150 at Timble Ings in March. A single seen at Slippery Ford on 28th April was the final record of the period.

A flock of 30 was seen in hawthorn trees in Riddlesden on 26th September, making these the first autumn arrivals. The major thrust occurred from 15th October, when flocks of 200 were observed crossing Keighley Moor and Burley Moor. During 17th and 18th October over 2,500 poured over the watchpoint at Caldene Fields, moving quickly from the north east towards the south west. At this location during 25 days of observations, 5,811 were counted, with the peak during the morning of 18th October, when 1,444 were logged. During the same period, though foggy conditions hampered observations on some days, a total of 14,085 was recorded at the watchpoint at Oxenhope, with four-figure counts on three days: 2267 (20th October), 1908 (22nd October) and 6226 (31st October) which included two large flocks of 1500 and 1800 all heading towards the south and south west.

Roosts of Fieldfare were reported on Keighley Moor, where over 500 rested, and at Timble Ings where an estimated 5,000 also gathered at the end of November.

SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos Resident breeder/winter visitor.

Birds were singing from secluded perches at the beginning of the year, and reports from Strid Wood and Norwood Bottom indicated that up to seven males were prominent in early March. If any more evidence were needed from the 230

!50 reports, 15 seen around Upper Wharfedale in late March strongly suggest that the species is well-established.

There were only a few reports of breeding and these involved fully-fledged young at Barden Bridge, Addingham and Toad Holes Beck in spring. During a week in the middle of October, five double-figure counts, giving an aggregate total of 91 birds, were counted at Caldene Fields Watchpoint.

REDWING Turdus iliacus Winter visitor and passage migrant.

In the first winter period, there were none of the customary large flocks of three figures. The largest was one of 50, thought to be returning birds, seen flying north west over Caldene Fields on 24th March. Other gatherings of more than 40 occurred at John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, Horton Country Park, Apperley Bridge and Menston. The 25 double-figure counts represent a reduction of almost 40% on the previous year. Three sightings, one concerning a flock of 30, were reported on the final day of March, but strangely there were none seen in April.

The autumn migration was heralded with the passage of up to 20 birds over Oxenhope Watchpoint on 1st October. During the most intense period of migration, 18,660 were seen at the moorland watchpoint during the first 20 days of October. The most spectacular day was the 12th, when 5,800 passed over in 125 flocks, challenging the harassed observers. This was one of five days when three-figure counts were logged here and there were two more such days at Caldene Fields Watchpoint where a total of 14,580 was amassed during October, with the bulk - 5,493 - passing over on the 17th.

MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus Resident breeder and passage migrant.

There were nine post-breeding double-figure flocks; all but three were seen in the north of the area. The largest one of 36 was recorded at Barden Scale on 5th September and was followed three weeks later by 30 near Riddlesden. Berries, particularly rowans, sustain these birds at this time and sizeable gatherings were evident where this food was plentiful, particularly at Pennythorn (Baildon), Mucky Park (Barden Moor) and Menston. At Slippery Ford, an adult attacked the Black Grouse in defence of its rowan berries and eight birds tried to protect their hoard from winter thrushes.

Pairs feeding young at the nest were recorded at Denton, Middleton Woods and Slippery Ford during April and early May. In woods along Sconce Lane, three pairs were active and juveniles were seen here and at Shipley Glen during the summer.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata Fairly uncommon migrant breeder/passage visitor.

A quieter year for this species or possibly just under-reported with no April returning birds as last year, the first arrival being at Strid Wood on 5th May and !51 most reports throughout the season were from the Wharfe/ Washburn Valley with Strid Wood and surrounding areas being the prominent site. Reported sightings away from this area came from Thornton Moor, John o’Gaunt’s, Ogden, and Hewenden Reservoirs, Harden Moor, Glovershaw, Esholt and Denholme Clough. A count of eight birds was reported from Strid Wood on 17th May whilst six, probably on passage, were at John o’Gaunt’s on 18th August. The final report was from Harden Moor on 14th September.

The only breeding report concerned two pairs with young in Spotted Flycatcher the Denton area. photo: Nigel Priestley

ROBIN Erithacus rubecula Resident breeder/winter visitor.

We should be thankful that some birders have undertaken careful surveys of their patch, so that we are able to assess the current status of what we believe is a common species. There were nine detailed surveys, all of which produced double figures. On a two mile walk around Low Moor, in February, 32 birds, most of which were singing, were noted, whilst along the trail from Lindley to Thruscross in October, 52 were counted. The other seven reports, all in March, involved between 13 and 18 birds at Otley Wetland NR, Glovershaw, Shipley Glen, Norwood Bottom, Strid Wood, Fewston Reservoir and John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir. Juveniles were reported in woodland, around moorland fringes and in gardens, and at Menston two nests produced nine young, of which a couple were ringed.

PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca Regular migrant breeder/uncommon on passage.

It is disappointing that all reports of this species were once again from the Wharfe/Washburn valleys with no signs of them spreading further afield. Indeed this bird was once a common sight at St. Ives (near Bingley) but is now absent despite the habitat remaining the same.

It was hoped last year that boxes put up at Fewston and Thruscross would attract breeding but unfortunately there was just the one sighting of a single bird from that area, the first returning bird on 13th April. After that first sighting, birds started to be seen in Strid Wood, Barden Bridge and Folly Hall Wood and by 5th

!52 May birds were back at Norwood Bottom and Dob Park Wood. The last report was from Lindley Wood Reservoir on 10th August.

The long established boxes at Norwood Bottom and Dob Park Wood produced 31 young all ringed with two nests without eggs and one nest deserted. This count of young is considerably down compared to last year’s 127.

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros Uncommon passage visitor, casual breeder

An elusive species with single bird sightings down from four in 2015 to just three in 2016. The first and most unusual sighting was that of an overwintering female seen in Wakefield Road, Bowling, Bradford on 19th February (KM) whilst the other two birds were October sightings which is the commoner time for this species. A single female was at Oxenhope Watchpoint on the morning of 13th October in dense fog and a search to relocate the bird later in the day failed (DCB, HC). The final bird, an immature male, was first spotted near Warley Moor Reservoir 14th October (BS) then later in the day at Withins Gap (CB). The following day, it was relocated at Slade, a nearby location.

REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

The first returning bird was reported from Barden on 10th April and three days later birds turned up at Storiths Road, John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, Snowden Moor and Lindley Wood Reservoir. From then reports increased with the greatest number of sightings from Bolton Abbey/Strid Wood although birds were widespread throughout the whole of our area. The final sighting came from Harden Moor on 14th September.

Though several singing males were heard only six reports of breeding were submitted with two failed attempts where nests were found without eggs. Norwood Bottom produced 11 young all of which were ringed. Several, once common, Redstart sites have been lost over the years but birds showing up in new locations means this species keeps a good stronghold around our area in the summer months.

WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

An elusive bird but still well reported with 50 submissions mainly from three sources, Slippery Ford, the Oxenhope area and Glovershaw, although birds were also reported from Barden Moor, John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, Golcar Farm, Bland Hill, Pennythorn and Cullingworth. The first bird appeared on Barden Moor on 30th April whilst the final sightings were of passage birds on Nab Water Lane (Oxenhope) up to 20th September.

Most records were of birds in bracken with one at Slippery Ford in with a party of five Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and 12 Goldfinch. From the same location

!53 two adult and three juveniles were reported and across the recording area 13 juveniles were seen in all.

Male Whinchat. photo: Brian Vickers Juvenile Stonechat Nigel Priestley

STONECHAT Saxicola torquata Fairly common passage /winter visitor and breeder.

The status of the Stonechat has been similar through the years with an influx one year and a lull the year after but over the last three years the position has changed and sightings are remaining constant year to year, so that this species has now become a common upland sighting. An amazing total of 106 submissions have been collected reporting 43 pairs as well as many singles and a minimum count of 31 juveniles. Reports came in from every month of the year with just six reports in January and four in February after which sightings increased over the spring and summer then dropping off to five in November and back up to 10 in December.

This hardy little bird overwintered in the highest, bleakest parts of the recording area with a pair at Whetstone Gate in January along with a female at Warley Moor Reservoir, whilst two birds endured Soil Hill through December in unbelievable conditions.

WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe Very common passage visitor and occasional breeder.

There were interesting and pleasing statistics on this passage visitor with 536 birds reported moving through our area in the spring and 248 birds reported on the return journey in the autumn. The first spring arrival was seen at Glovershaw !54 on 25th March closely followed by birds at Slippery Foord, Leeshaw Reservoir and Lower Laithe Reservoir. The final record was a single on Soil Hill on 16th October preceded by two on the 14th at Warley Moor Reservoir one of which was said to show the characteristics of Greenland Wheatear (O.o.leucorhoa). The spring total included double-figure counts at Glovershaw, Whetstone Gate and Warley Moor which location also had an excellent 19 birds in the autumn.

Over the years Wheatear has essentially been a passage migrant and there have been very few breeding records. It is therefore pleasing that eight pairs raised young in the Barden area part of some 26 birds which apparently summered.

DUNNOCK Prunella modularis Common resident breeder.

The 230 reports give a clear picture of a common species that has adapted to a wide range of habitats, being seen in parks and gardens, in woodland, on moorland fringes, in hedgerows and around the margins of lakes and rivers. The species is thriving in certain locations, particularly at Toad Holes Beck, Yeadon Tarn, Redcar Tarn and Harden Moor. Breeding was observed in gardens and at Halton Height, where adults were seen feeding at a nest. Juveniles with adults were also recorded at Glovershaw and at Caldene Fields.

HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus Resident breeder.

Double-figure flocks of up to 30 were reported in a variety of urban areas from Addingham, Ilkley, Menston and Leathley in the north, to , , Queensbury and Cullingworth in the south. Juveniles were seen with adults at Caldene Fields and five young were ringed at a nest in Menston. The 50 or so records came mainly from just five contributors and although the species remains common, its true status is not reflected in the dearth of information received.

TREE SPARROW Passer montanus Increasingly common, resident breeder.

Breeding took place at seven locations in the north of the area where boxes had been erected. At Sun Lane NR, from 13 nests, 37 young were successfully raised. At Clifton and Timble village, nine boxes produced 34 young and at the four other locations where single boxes were situated, adults successfully raised broods (PRo). Breeding also took place at a regular site at Beaverdyke, where adults were seen in March. There was also a report of at least four birds near Shelf in February and a post-breeding flock of ten was seen feeding on sorrel at Glovershaw in July. Small flocks were reported close by at Sconce and also at Dobrudden Farm on Baildon Moor, both in December.

!55 YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava Increasingly uncommon passage visitor. Two birds visited a garden at Hazlewood on 21st April (RN) and a single was seen at Leathley a month later (RP). There were four reports of a pair seen at a regular site between Gallows Hill and Knotford Nook in May and June (TK, AJ, PRo et al). The final two reports involved a single over the watchpoint at Oxenhope on 10th September (DCB, HC) and another at Scargill Reservoir on 24th September (AJ).

Yellow Wagtail at Hazlewood photo: Roger Nelson

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea Resident breeder and winter visitor.

Breeding pairs were located along the Wharfe from Barden Bridge to Gallows Hill (Otley). A juvenile was seen with adults at the latter site and another pair was active close to Otley weir in early spring. At Addingham, a pair bred in a garden stream, where two young birds were seen in August. In Strid Wood, four juveniles were successfully reared at a nest in May, whilst at a second site, adults were seen with a young bird in August. There was a third pair on this stretch of river, at Barden Bridge in April. Between Halton Height and Upper !56 Barden Reservoir a further pair may well have bred though no further details were forthcoming.

At Slippery Ford and at Caldene Fields, adults were watched gathering nest material in May, and later in June & July fledged young were seen. Other similar observations were made at East Riddlesden, Wagon Lane (Cottingley), Leeshaw Reservoir and Myrtle Park (Bingley) where breeding was attempted and in most cases was successful. This was not the case at Norwood Bottom, where a nest of two eggs was predated.

PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba Resident breeder, passage migrant, and winter visitor.

A large roost of between 150 and 200 in Brook Street, Ilkley and double-figure counts of overwintering flocks at Dowley Gap, Swinsty Reservoir, Caldene Fields and Ben Rhydding were the highlights during the first part of the year. Pairs became established around farms and water courses in spring and adults were feeding at Leeshaw Reservoir, Riddlesden and Slippery Ford in May. Family parties of between 20 and 40 were reported at Ogden Reservoir, Strid Wood and Redcar Tarn in late summer. The aggregate total passing the watchpoint at Oxenhope during September and October was 466, an average of 14 birds per day. On 21st October, 162 were recorded, 34% of the total. Two birds showing characteristics of the nominate White Wagtail (M.a.alba) were seen at Caldene Fields on 18th October and again on 11th November (MP). Singles were also seen near Laycock on 7th April (KM), and on the slipway of Keighley Moor Reservoir on 20th April (IH) (see photo). White Wagtail photo: Ian Hargreaves

TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis Uncommon migrant breeder/passage visitor.

A bird was seen shortly after arrival at Norwood Edge on 20th April and another was singing at Timble Ings on the final day of April. Up to four others were established at Stainburn Plantation and a single male was watched at Lower Barden Reservoir on 18th May. A bird was seen carrying food at the former location, and this remained the only evidence of breeding. During August and September there were four records concerning birds on migration, a single at !57 Denholme Clough, and a single and duos on two occasions passing Oxenhope Watchpoint.

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis Common resident/migrant breeder and passage visitor.

Reports from Glovershaw, Soil Hill, Otley Chevin, Burley Moor and Round Hill confirmed that there was a return to moorland breeding habitats during the second half of March. Adults were seen carrying food on Baildon Moor, Keighley Moor and Scargill Reservoir in June. It was at these locations that post-breeding flocks of up to 60 were reported during August and September.

Migration was observed at three watchpoints: At Oxenhope, over 30 days between 28th August and 22nd October, a total of 13,564 was counted, an average of 452 per day. The major push was during 30th September and 1st October when 7,731, 57% of the total, were logged. At Caldene Fields, over 18 days between 11th September and 7th October, a total of 3,510 flew by, an average of 195 per day which included 1,962 on 30th September (55% of the total). Watching from Queensbury on 30th September, the observer reported 418 flying south; this was the highest of the eight days here, and represented almost a third of the total recorded.

CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor.

The only three-figure counts were all from the Queensbury and Ogden Reservoir area in October and November; the norm at other times being flock sizes between 40 to 50. One of these flocks, at the latter location, contained Bramblings on 19th October. In the north of the area, Timble Ings, John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir, Strid Wood and the Washburn Valley were locations where the species was recorded in good numbers. There were only a few records which mentioned breeding, though some did indicate singing males, activity around nest sites, and adults with juveniles in summer. During the peak period of migration in October and November there was a daily average of 15 at Caldene Fields, with peak counts of 34 on 2nd and 3rd November.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla Regular but erratic winter visitor.

There was a respectable year’s haul with 60 reports from across the area, 85% of which were in the October to December period. In January, 11 birds were seen near Redcar Tarn; then there were just occasional singles and duos until the final report on 12th April.

On 2nd October, birders at Oxenhope Watchpoint picked up the first arrivals and a week later a flock of over 30 caught the eye at Slippery Ford. A similar-sized group was seen amongst beech mast on the Chevin in late November and other flocks of up to 20 gathered at Street Lane (Bradup) and Ogden Reservoir. In previous years, Strid Wood has been a reliable location to see this species, but unfortunately there was just one report of a single in November. !58 GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris Resident breeder,passage and winter visitor.

After the problems which have affected this attractive species, there continue to be signs of progress towards a more sustainable future. Breeding pairs were identified around Baildon, notably at Faweather Grange, Birch Close and Brackenhall. Other breeders were seen in an Ilkley garden, along Lady Lane, Bingley and at Esholt, where juveniles accompanied adults to garden feeders.

Wintering flocks of up to 20 were seen on Shelf Moor and others, between eight and ten, were reported at Yeadon Tarn and Otley Wetland Nature Reserve. A post-breeding flock of 27 was seen at Ogden Plantation in October and during the same month there were four double-figure counts at the watchpoints of Caldene Fields and Oxenhope.

GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis Resident breeder, passage visitor.

The 250 records, down by 25%, is probably an indication that this species is now very common and has begun to suffer from being under-recorded. Wintering flocks at Caldene Fields, Gallows Hill (Otley), Queensbury and Yeadon Tarn all reached double figures, with the largest, one of 50, at Prune Park (Allerton). Post-breeding flocks in July and August were often larger and were well- described when family parties were seen taking advantage of thistles in meadows and upland pastures. This was a good time to see adults with juveniles, many of which were fed whilst on wires and fences.

The migration watch at Caldene Fields produced an interesting set of data. The main passage began on 10th September, when 87 birds were recorded. Over the next 38 days, a total of 2,585, an average of 68 per day, flew over the watchpoint. On 14 of these days, three-figure counts were recorded; the largest was 225 on 17th September.

SISKIN Carduelis spinus Resident/possible breeder, fairly common passage and winter visitor.

Other than 100 at Scargill Reservoir at the end of September and two more of about 60 at Otley Wetland NR in autumn, there was a noticeable decline in flock sizes compared with reports of five years ago. Typically numbers were between 10 and 30, with the larger flocks seen at Stockbridge NR and Ogden Reservoir towards the end of the year.

Fifty-three on 1st October was the largest of nine double-figure counts registered at the Oxenhope Watchpoint during October. Twenty-eight were seen from Queensbury during three hours of recording on 31st October, and at the much lower site of Caldene Fields, the largest daily total was 13 on 12th October.

There were numerous records of birds visiting feeders, and at a garden in Ben Rhydding a flock of 15 appeared in a silver birch in March. The only record of !59 breeding was at Timble village, where a female and two young were ringed on 27th May.

LINNET Carduelis cannabina Passage migrant, winter visitor and uncommon breeder.

This is a species that has always been associated with our Pennine uplands and moorland fringes and is now in decline nationally. This year’s records reflect that position. The enormous three-figure counts that were regularly seen as recently as 2012, have not materialised since. Post-breeding flocks of about 70 at Lindley Wood Reservoir and another of 60 on the cricket field at Queensbury, both in September, were the largest reported. There were other smaller gatherings seen during this period at Nab End (Silsden), Braithwaite Edge and Hewenden Reservoir.

Breeding was suspected at a number of places including Toad Holes Beck, Sconce, Hazlewood Moor, Denholme Edge, Bradup and Moor. Adults with juveniles were seen at Caldene Fields, Glovershaw, Keighley Moor, Snowden Moor, Sconce and Slippery Ford.

TWITE Carduelis flavirostris Very uncommon and local; mainly on migration.

A very sad story for our local Twite population with numbers depreciating yearly despite an extensive Nyjer seed feeding programme at known popular sites, mainly Warley Moor Reservoir, once a hotspot for this species where flocks of up to 30 Twite could be seen on a regular basis.

Reports this year were down to a mere four sightings, three of these being single birds. The first record was of 12 birds at Warley Moor Reservoir on 14th April near the feeding station (CB). A single was at Denholme Edge amongst a flock of Linnets on 23rd May (JB), whilst the last two sightings were during the autumn migration Twite photo: Ian Hargreaves period with one at the Oxenhope Watchpoint on 21st October (DCB, HC) and another on the track to Keighley Moor Reservoir on 2nd November (IH) (see photo).

!60 LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis cabaret Passage/winter visitor. Occasional breeder.

There were 83 reports - in line with the previous year - of which 40% were concerned with autumn migration. There were six significant counts during the autumn/winter period, all of them eclipsed by the flock of 100 or so that were seen feeding at Swinsty car park on 29th December. The other reports involved flocks of between nine and 14 at Timble Ings, Stockbridge NR, Menston, Raw Nook NR and Otley Wetland. There were no reports of breeding, though a singing bird at Stockbridge NR in late April and regular sightings on Harden Moor, Timble Ings and Low Snowden during May and June suggested that activity may have taken place.

COMMON REDPOLL (MEALY REDPOLL) Carduelis flammea Scarce passage and winter visitor.

One was seen amongst a large flock of 100 Lesser Redpoll at Swinsty Reservoir on 29th December (JA). This was the first record since 2013, when five birds were ringed at Timble Ings.

CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra Erratic passage/winter visitor, and occasional summer resident and breeder.

A much improved year for the species with several more sightings than the previous few years. Birds were seen in March and June and then from September to the year end.

The area between Timble Ings and Swinsty Reservoir produced most of the records and the first site had 21 birds on 2nd October and 27th November. Only four other locations featured: Barden Moor had eight birds and Stainburn Forest four, both in October and small numbers passed the Oxenhope and Caldene Fields Watchpoints in autumn.

BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula Resident breeder.

The sizeable groups of up ten birds, often recorded ten years ago in winter and early spring, seem to be a thing of the past. During the winter period, pairs - occasionally with another single - were seen in a few large gardens in Wharfedale. It was only at Otley Wetland, Timble Ings and the plantation at Ogden Reservoir, where a post-breeding flock of 11 was reported in October, were there any notable gatherings. Breeding was successful in an Ilkley garden and at Stockbridge NR, where three juveniles uttered their begging call as they waited next to the feeder.

!61 HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustes Scarce winter visitor

Two birds were seen feeding on the ground in a Baildon garden on 6th February. This was the first record since 2012 and only the 10th year in the last 30 that these scarce birds have been reported. (N&LH).

SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis Regular but uncommon passage/winter visitor.

A bird seen feeding near Slade, on Warley Moor, on 17th October, was the only record (CB).

LAPLAND BUNTING Calcarius lapponicus Scarce passage migrant.

Two birds were picked up as they flew, whilst calling, over the heads of observers at Oxenhope Watchpoint. Both were in October, on the 1st and the 29th (DCB, HC). This was the second consecutive year that this species has been reported.

REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus Resident breeder/passage visitor.

Stockbridge NR held up to eight in January and there were double-figure counts at Timble Ings and Scargill Reservoir where the birds were overwintering. The return to moorland breeding areas in the middle of March was noted by the singing of males, particularly at Glovershaw, Slippery Ford and at Otley Wetland NR, where the species flourishes. Around the northern edge of Baildon Moor, at Pennythorn and Sconce, nine singing males were identified in May and breeding was certainly underway, as it was at Fewston Reservoir in June, where five young were seen. Family parties were seen all over the western and northern slopes of Baildon Moor during August and September. The tall bracken that develops in summer provides ideal habitats, and although these ferns are much maligned, they have made this area a hotspot for this species.

!62 Escaped or Released Species

BAR-HEADED GOOSE Anser indicus

Though the species is now recorded in most years, attempted breeding was established in 2016, with the discovery of a nest with eggs on Rombald’s Moor in early May (PRo). The timing suggests there are several birds in the recording area, as singles were seen at both Beamsley and Leeshaw Reservoir on 3rd May, three birds were in Upper Wharfedale in March and up to two birds were on Keighley Moor intermittently between early March and late May.

Bar-headed Geese in Upper Wharfedale photo: Roger Nelson

MUSCOVY DUCK Cairina moschata

All the records concerned birds at Redcar Tarn. During September and October, numbers reached double-figures after another successful breeding season.

WOOD DUCK Aix sponsa

An escaped male was seen with Greylags at Silsden during the first part of the year and a possible second bird was regularly reported along the canal between East Riddlesden and Dowley Gap.

EUROPEAN EAGLE OWL Bubo bubo

An interesting record of a bird in the Denton Moor area, around Yarnett House Farm for about a month in March, and roosting at Willow Hill Farm in August. Where it got to in the intervening period, or what happened to it subsequently is not recorded.

Widely kept in captivity birds seen are generally regarded as escapes or releases but some may of course be the progeny of the few pairs breeding in the wild.

!63 Contributors’ List 2016 The initials shown below are those which appear in the Report.

Keith Allen Paul Marfell John Armstrong (JA) Phil Matthews David Barker (DCB) Jon Middleton (JM) Jenny Barker Keith Moir (KM) Mike Bloomfield (MB) Roger Nelson (RN) Jamie Brass (JB) Steven Parkes (SP) John Brooks Derek & Brenda Parkin (PD&JB) Richard Butler Damian Pearson Calderdale Birders (CB) John Poland (JPo) Richard Candeland Casper Pottle Tina Chard Martyn Priestley (MVP) Roy Clarke (RC) Nigel & Danny Priestley (N&DP) Howard Creber (HC) John Preshaw Mick Cunningham (MC) Rod Proctor (RP) B. M. Dodsworth Shaun Radcliffe (SR) Mark Doveston Julia Rich (JR) Penny French P. Roe (PRo) Norma & Les Hall (N&LH) Peter Rollins Graham Hanlon D. & M. Scrimshaw (D&MS) Ian Hargreaves (IH) Martin Stone (MS) Malcolm James Brian Sumner (BS) Simon Jenkinson Nick Tonge Mike Joyce Tony Tudor Andy Jowett (AJ) John Tyson D&H Kidman Sally Varrie Chris King (CJK) Brian Vickers (BV) Paul King (PCK) Nigel Ward Theo Kuechel (TK) Wharfedale Naturalists’ Soc. (WNS) Richard Lobley Mark Williams (MW) Stephen Lilley Paul Willoughby (PW) John Little (JL)

!64