November 2004 to 2017

November 2018 Unusual sightings during the month included a Firecrest which was watched from close range in Low Moor, and nearby at Caldene Fields, a Yellowhammer flew north during a period of migration watching. A Common Redpoll, whilst in the company of Lesser Redpolls, was trapped and ringed at Timble (16th) and in these woodland, over 50 Crossbills were seen a week later. At Menston station, eight Bullfinches were recorded and a Hawfinch was seen making a brief visit to Barden Scale (23rd). In the Aire Valley, six Rose-ringed Parakeets were present in Northcliffe Woods, Shipley and a single bird visited a Keighley garden. Bramblings had been recorded in good numbers migrating through the area in October and early in November. At Caldene Fields 98 passed through in two days (2nd & 3rd), and there was evidence of small numbers at St. Ives, Ilkley Cemetery, Silsden, Riddlesden and Barden. A male Chaffinch in a Queensbury garden, amongst a flock of 25 others, was identified as a bird that had been ringed in Norway. Water Rails were in residence at Otley Wetland and at Stockbridge, and a birder reported that 26 Snipe were taking advantage of the conditions at Bingley Bog North (28th). A Ruff was spotted at Redcar Tarn (22nd), a couple of Dunlin braved the wilds of Warley Moor Reservoir and a Woodcock flew into Caldene Fields (11th). Between Ilkley and Otley, Curlews and Lapwings were present in flocks of more than 200 and a roost of over 300 Starlings was seen at Otley Wetland. Goldeneye numbers appeared to have settled at about 14 between this site and Knotford Nook. At Tong Park, an impressive total of 23 Gadwall were feeding on the reservoir (29th). Little Egrets were seen on the Aire at Denso Marston, Beckfoot, Steeton and Silsden Beck, whilst another flew downstream, over Barden Bridge (10th). Fieldfares continued to arrive in the first week, culminating in 2,237 over Caldene Fields (8th) and, in the north of the area, a flock of 1,200 went to roost in Stainburn Plantation (6th). A day total of 580 Herring Gulls fed on Cullingworth Fields whilst an adult Yellow-legged Gull visited here (30th) and 1st-year bird was seen at Lower Laithe Reservoir (15th). November 2017 More Whooper Swans were reported, particularly in the first four days of the month, with a flock of 19 passing the vantage point at Oxenhope (3rd) and a further 11 the following day. It was a similar story as last month with huge skeins of Pink-footed Geese making the journey across the Pennines. The most remarkable day was the 3rd when 3,811 were counted from the Oxenhope watchpoint, 900 of these were seen over Marley as they flew eastwards. The long vigil at the moorland watchpoint proved especially successful when seven birds, now confirmed as Tundra Bean Geese, flew north on a day of intense watching (5th). Goldeneye arrived in the Wharfedale area and by the end of the month a dozen of these attractive ducks could be seen on Otley Wetland (25th). Over at Cononley Ings, the conditions were perfect for visiting wildfowl and amongst the throng were 190 Teal and 360 Wigeon, a good haul for the Aire Valley (26th). On the 1st, four Great White Egrets, first picked up at distance out to the south east, were watched as they crossed the flanks of the Aire and continued on the same trajectory. The following day, a single Great White Egret was seen at Cononley Ings. The smaller Little Egret was once more seen, with a report of a single bird at Bolton Abbey (10th to 14th). We have become used to regular sightings of Common Buzzard sightings from across the area, but five in the sky over Kex Gill, including a period when three were flying together whilst being joined by six Red Kites and a couple of noisy Ravens was a very special moment indeed (5th). One of the few Goshawk sightings during the year occurred in the Washburn (24th) and there were also three reports of Hen Harrier over these northern moorlands, whilst a “ringtail”, believed to be the tagged bird “Miranda”, was hunting over Keighley Moor (2nd). The other raptor of note was Peregrine with ten reports. Once more, a pair in the City centre attracted attention. Whilst standing at the Remembrance Day ceremony, the pair were watched as they squabbled over their prey allowing a dozen Black-headed Gulls to intervene. Water Rails had returned to Stockbridge Reserve (8th),a Black-tailed Godwit visited Cononley Ings (26th) andover 650 Golden Plovers had gathered on Scargill Pasture (24th). Three Jack Snipe were flushed from boggy ground at Braithwaite Edge (4th) and later 25 Snipe were located here (21st). The Gull roost at Thornton Moor included 2,000 Black-headed Gulls and 1 over 1,000 were regularly gathered on Swinsty. A monthly total of 1,456 Herring Gulls at Brown Royd and 1,357 at Cullingworth, far surpassed previous totals and a day maximum of 255 at the Bradford site was the highest of the year. A flock of 86 Stock Doves at Cullingworth Fields was the biggest of recent counts and the Woodpigeon migration, by now passed its peak, still produced almost 5,000 birds over Caldene Fields (5th). There were five reports of Barn Owl, three of Tawny Owl whilst there were late reports of single Ring Ouzel, a Ring-necked Parakeet in the South Bradford and a Waxwing at Timble Ings (11th). Fieldfare and Redwing passage peaked in the first week but Starlings, from the continent, were crossing our watchpoints in good numbers in the first two weeks. During this time,3,000 at Caldene Fields and 7,000 at Oxenhope were recorded. Stonechats were still around at Fly Flatts in small family parties and Hawfinch, first seen In October, were once more seen widely mainly in ones and twos. Four birds were feeding in large yew trees, below the keeper’s cottage in Strid Woods (1st). Brambling were also present with a few passing through, particularly the few at Caldene Fields. However, a flock of at least 25 at Timble, may well have been here for a little longer. November 2016 Apart from a cold spell early in the month, November was generally calm and mild. Highlights included a female Black Grouse (a first for the Group) which was present on four occasions close to the car park at Slippery Ford. Nearby at Keighley Moor Reservoir a couple of Bewick Swans remained for a little while until they were disturbed by a dog walker. These were the first seen in the area since 2011. There were also four reports of Whooper Swans with 14 over Oxenhope Watchpoint (1st), nine on the water at Ogden (6th), four over Queensbury (19th) and six at Cononley Ings (22nd). An astonishing flock of 120 White-fronted Geese, first seen at Barden and later near Skipton (18th), was preceded by the spectacular of Pink-footed Geese crossing the area at the beginning of the month. Nine skeins, consisting of 1398 birds, were seen from Oxenhope WP and another 900 passed over Caldene Fields WP on the 2nd. The following day, there were skeins of 100 and 75 over Shipley Glen followed by an aggregate of 435 at Oxenhope WP (6th) bringing this major event to a close. At Snaygill, towards the end of the month, five Ruff were present (26th) and during this period Shoveler and Shelduck also appeared. Mandarin ducks were seen at Ogden Reservoir for the first time and a single was located at Scargill Reservoir along with three female Goldeneye (26th). Another female was on Ogden Reservoir (6th) and a single male was a surprise visitor to the lake at Tong Park (20th). The only Pochard yet to appear at Yeadon Tarn was a female (29th), but male and female Pintails made a welcome visit to Ogden Reservoir (13th). At Denton Park a wintering flock of Curlew had reached 93 and Lapwing totalled 200 whilst at Thornbury, 100 of these waders preferred to roost on the roof of B&Q. Jack Snipe were seen at Tong Park, Bingley Bog North and at Caldene Fields WP, where the bird flew by the observer. Common Snipe were in evidence at High Royds, Menston where six birds were identified. Wood Pigeons crossed the area in vast numbers in the first week. On the 2nd, 25,000 in about 1,000 flocks passed observers at the watchpoints at Caldene Fields and Oxenhope. The aggregate total for four days reached nearly 43,000. A single Brambling was attracted to a Baildon bird table (22nd) and 20 others were reported at Ogden Plantation towards the end of the month. Others were seen at Bolton Abbey and there was also a Twite at Keighley Moor Reservoir (2nd). Of great interest was the arrival of visiting Waxwings which appeared at 11 diverse locations. Thirteen birds were seen at Keighley Golf Course (4th) and there were single-figure counts at Thackley and Yeadon. Sainsbury’s car park in Keighley held 20 birds (10th) and similar flocks were seen at Ilkley, Stockbridge, Addingham and Kildwick. There were also reports of small numbers at Ben Rhydding, Cow and Calf and Undercliffe. Even more exotic were two Ring-necked Parakeets in a Baildon garden (17th). November 2015 The weather was again mild, dull and at times wet. Certainly the highlight of the month was a reported influx of Short-eared Owls. Three birds were watched over Keighley Moor, another was seen hunting at Bradup and the fifth bird was hunting near Kex Gill.

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