Bradford Ornithological Group the 2013 Report Is Sponsored By
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Bradford Ornithological Group The 2013 Report is sponsored by 10 Ivegate, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7RE 0113 3910 510 2014 Destinations Include Europe, Middle East and North Africa Bulgaria Coto Donana & Alentejo Estonia Oman Madeira Spain - mammals Tarifa - migration The Americas Yucatan, Mexico Peru Brazilian Pantanal Rest of the World Madagascar Goa & Karnataka Northern India Namibia Taiwan Tanzania website: www.birdholidays.co.uk email: [email protected] !1 From the Chairman Our members not only enjoy the hobby of bird watching but many now take photographs of various species and this is reflected in this, the 2013 Annual Report. My sincere thanks go to Paul King, not just as the Publications Secretary of BOG but also the writer of the Report. He has been ably assisted by our Group Recorder, Stephen Lilley plus a team of members who have supported the production, so my gratitude extends to them too. Please keep entering your records on the data base or post them to us along with any birding observations or experiences arising in our recording area. This data ensures information is available for future reference. Finally, I hope you enjoy this issue. Shaun Radcliffe Report Production Compiler and Editor: Paul King Records Collation: Stephen Lilley, with assistance from Shaun Radcliffe and Paul King Photographs Front Cover: Common Tern at Saltaire, July 2013 by Paul Marfell Inside Front Cover: A pair of Blackcaps at Stockbridge Grey Wagtail (male) both by Brian Vickers Back Cover: Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Shipley Glen by Stephen Lilley Inside Back Cover: Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker by Stephen Lilley Others: As individually credited !2 Editorial It has been a pleasure to compile and edit the 2013 Report, a task which was so well-handled by Keith Moir for many years. In taking over this position I hope to build on his tremendous legacy and incorporate a few changes along the way. Compiling the Report is not straightforward and without the assistance of a team of efficient supporters this process would fall unfairly on too few shoulders. The team, consisting of Committee members, has worked tirelessly to ensure that all the data, made up of some 17,000 records, has been very carefully assessed and its accuracy thoroughly checked. This is the 27th Report of the Bradford Ornithological Group and the first to fully use technology in all our communications. We’ve completely avoided any unnecessary printing, posting and delays and comfortably reached the target date for publication. The number of 179 species, which is slightly more than last year, includes some unusual sightings, none more so than the Rock Bunting, which, although seen in 2011, can only be described as ‘mega’. It was only the sixth British record and the first since 1967. In what was probably a typical year there were some surprises. These included a Slavonian Grebe at Knotford Nook, a Purple Heron at Snaygill Ings, a White-fronted Goose at Chelker, an impressive flock of Barnacle Geese, a good year for Hobby and the second ever Yellow-browed Warbler. The Annual Report represents the cornerstone of the Group’s activities. It is very important that we make every effort to publish an accurate and reliable account of our sightings as part of the ongoing study of birds. Our records are important, they tell a story about this region and that information is then incorporated into the national picture. Everyone has a part to play and your own records are vital. Ensure that you record everything you see and send the details to the Group recorder. Make sure we receive your records by 31st December by either of these methods: 1. E-mail records to [email protected] or 2. Pass written sightings to Stephen Lilley or Shaun Radcliffe at meetings. 3. Fill in the on-line electronic form on the website. 4. Send an Excel file to the recorder, Stephen Lilley by 31st December. Paul King !3 CLASSIFIED LIST OF SPECIES FOR 2013 SLAVONIAN GREBE Podiceps auritus Rare winter and passage visitor. A well-watched adult bird spent over two weeks at Knotford Nook in January. It was first reported on the 26th, the first since a moulting adult on Leeming Reservoir in 2004. Only the ninth record (WNS, RP, AJ et al). Slavonian Grebe at Knotford Nook in January photo: Stephen Lilley LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis Fairly common resident breeder, winter and passage visitor. As in recent years, most of the reports related to the Washburn Valley and Otley Wetland Nature Reserve, though the highest count of seven was at Ogden Reservoir on 29th September. Successful breeding again took place at Park Dam (Low Moor, Bradford), Kex Gill, Tong Park (Baildon), Chelker Reservoir and Scargill Reservoir. GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus Common resident breeder, and passage visitor. During the winter months, the biggest concentrations were at Yeadon Tarn, Knotford Nook and Otley Wetland. Up to ten adults were seen at Yeadon on !4 17th March and there were respectable numbers at Knotford and Otley Wetland throughout the winter period. Breeding was attempted at Harold Park Lake, Lindley Wood Reservoir, Knotford Nook, Royds Hall Dam, Park Dam, Chelker Reservoir and Lindley Wood Reservoir. Juvenile birds were seen at all these places with the highest, an impressive four, at Harold Park Lake in Low Moor. It is possible that attempted breeding also took place at Dob Park, Otley Wetland and Yeadon Tarn. In all, around 15 juveniles were seen, in line with last year. BLACK-NECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis Scarce passage visitor. A single bird, in winter plumage, was seen at Otley Wetland on 12th January, making this the eighth recorded sighting and the first since 2009 (WNS). GANNET Morus bassanus Scarce vagrant. An unlikely two birds were seen approaching the Oxenhope Watchpoint from the east during the visible migration watch on 14th October. The birds made a U turn and returned eastwards, making them only the eighth and ninth recorded in this area (DB). CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo Locally common resident, passage and winter visitor. This bird was reported throughout the year from a wide variety of locations, with the most favoured spots being in Wharfedale and the Washburn Valley. In 2012 it was reported that Lindley Wood Reservoir was attracting many fewer birds than previously. However, there appears to have been something of a significant turn around, as over 50 were there throughout August and September. Away from here, Otley Wetland consistently recorded double figures, with up to 40 in January. Numbers suggest that the seasons determine their preferred habitat. Autumn migration counts at the Oxenhope watchpoint were well down on the previous year with only about 50 birds counted on passage. Three birds seen at Leeshaw Reservoir on 18 February showed the diagnostic features of Continental birds (P.c.sinensis). SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis Very scarce passage visitor. This species was seen fairly regularly up to the late 1990’s but last year’s record of a single bird was the first since 2001. This year, there was something of a repeat, with two birds flying over Caldene Fields on 17th October at almost exactly the same date as in 2012. (MVP). !5 BITTERN Botaurus stellaris Scarce winter visitor. This is the fourth year in succession a Bittern has been discovered at Otley Wetland. On two occasions in January a bird was seen flying up from the reedbed, gliding and landing, but on 20th February a dog, put into the reeds to flush out a fox, instead disturbed two Bitterns. This is the ninth Group record, but the first time more than one bird has been reported from the same spot. LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta Scarce local passage migrant. Despite healthy increases in the UK population, this species has still to make an impact in our recording area. A bird was seen feeding in a channel at the top of Lindley Wood Reservoir on 10th November and there was the possibility of a bird, glimpsed briefly from a passing car, on the playing fields at Ben Rhydding on the 9th December. GREY HERON Ardea cinerea Common resident and colonial breeder. Though well distributed throughout the area, numbers do appear to be much lower than one would expect, especially in Wharfedale and the Washburn. In Airedale, particularly in Shipley Glen, a winter roost of 12 and 17 were the only double-figure counts. Breeding records were confined to two locations, one near Askwith and the other in the Washburn. At the former, 30 occupied nests produced 58 young, and five nests at the latter site produced 10 juveniles, both in line with last year. PURPLE HERON Ardea purpurea Scarce national vagrant. A bird, identified as a Purple Heron at Snaygill Ings photos: Roy Clarke !6 A bird seen at Snaygill Ings on 4th May was watched from about 50 metres before it flew off, circled high above and drifted away towards the north-east (RC). A full description and distant photos have been submitted to the YNU. This is only the second recorded sighting of this bird, the first by an observer at Otley Wetland in 1997. WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia Possible scarce vagrant and annual escapee. A bird over Otley Chevin on 15th May probably originated from Harewood House collection. MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor Common resident breeder. The River Wharfe, its surrounding lakes and watercourses has, once more, predominately been the source of most of our records. In May, a double-figure count of 19 was reported at Otley Wetland and throughout the winter months there were smaller but not insignificant counts from here and at nearby Knotford Nook. Away from here, on the 18th May, there were Mute Swan, seen at Redcar 10 Mute Swans on Fewston Reservoir and an Tarn, carrying ring ZZ4 which amazing 17 on Yeadon Tarn, a figure which was attached when it was a has probably not been previously surpassed at cygnet on 23/09/2011 at this location.