Bradford Ornithological Group The 2015 Report is sponsored by 10 Ivegate, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7RE 0113 3910 510 2016 Destinations Include Europe, Middle East and North Africa Greece Finland Estonia Madeira Spain - wolves, bears, cats Rest of the World Falkland Islands and Ascension Bali, Java, Flores and Komodo Mongolia Madagascar Malawi & Zambia South Africa Ghana Taiwan and into 2017 Myanmar South India Safari Yucatan Northern India (Tiger trip) North East Ecuador Sri Lanka Uganda website: www.birdholidays.co.uk email: [email protected] !1 Report Production Compiler and Editor: Paul King Sub-Editor Keith Moir Records Collation: Stephen Lilley with assistance from Shaun Radcliffe and Paul King Photographs Front Cover: Barn Owl by Keith Allen Inside Front Cover: Curlew by Nigel Priestley Golden Plover by Stephen Lilley Back Cover: Cuckoo by Brian Vickers Inside Back Cover: Goosander and chicks by Roger Wilkinson Great Crested Grebe by Nigel Priestley Others: As individually credited Sky Lark Stephen Lilley !2 Editorial This, the 29th Annual Report, has been compiled from 17,500 records submitted to us by the 31st December. Without the unstinting help of Keith Moir and the supporting efforts of Stephen Lilley and Shaun Radcliffe, this document would not have been possible. In addition, thanks must go to the many photographers who have contributed superb images and helped to enhance the narrative and given the Report an impressive look. The Group should be justifiably proud that it is able to maintain high standards and in so doing reflect all that is best in birding within this Pennine area. However, this will only continue if others within the Group come forward and take up the challenge of keeping our interests alive and our publications in circulation. If you can contribute by writing and processing information, now is the time to join in. There were many notable sightings during 2015, none more so than Barn Owl, which, thanks to conservation efforts, resulted in the best-ever year for this enigmatic species. in March, a massive movement of Whooper Swans resulted in a record 185 flying over Oxenhope and in late summer two sightings of Yellow- browed Warblers were identified during a national influx of the species. Intermittent and occasional visitors included Bittern, Red-throated Diver, Garganey, Arctic Skua and Lapland Bunting, whilst those which were once fairly numerous, i.e. Yellow Wagtail, Wood Warbler, Yellowhammer and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, continued to "hang on". November floods brought record counts of Wigeon and Teal at Cononley Ings and, following submissions to higher authorities, we can announce the acceptance of 2014 records of Montagu's Harrier and two 'firsts' for the Group: Caspian Gull and Roseate Tern. This year's Report will be the last one to contain contributions from Tony Gough, who died in May 2015, and whose obituary has already appeared in "Lapwing". Tony was one of the first to recognise the potential of Barden Scale as a place to observe birds of prey, and much of the data on raptors in past Reports has been down to his meticulous records and descriptions. This Report is the poorer by his reduced contribution in 2015, and future ones will reflect this even more. Please ensure that we receive your records by 31st December in any of the following ways: 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. We look forward to a year when every member submits records, thus enhancing the overview of species - common and rare - which lies at the heart of and is a major focus of BOG activities Paul King !3 CLASSIFIED LIST OF SPECIES FOR 2015 MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor Common resident breeder. Once more the Wharfe at Otley recorded the largest count with 20 birds at the popular boating area on 25th May. During the winter up to 19 birds had been regularly seen at Yeadon Tarn. Altogether 11 double- figure counts were registered, mostly at these two locations, and away from here there were smaller flocks at Park Dam (Low Moor), Harold Park (Wibsey) and Lister Park (Bradford). Birds carrying yellow tags were recorded on these lakes and at Dowley Gap. Their identification numbers were 153, 154, 162, 201, 212 and 900. Breeding was proved at Otley Wetland, where two pairs were seen with several cygnets, and at a private lake in Wharfedale where two juveniles were noted. WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus Uncommon but regular passage visitor. 2014 was a record year for the number of sightings of this species, but this year, though limited to just 27 records, was impressive for the spectacular events during March which easily surpassed anything previously witnessed in this area. On 12th March, 48 of these majestic birds passed over Caldene Fields and two days later a flock of 42 rested on Warley Moor Reservoir. On the 15th, four birds spent about 24 hours on Ogden Water and two days later at least ten birds were seen over Old Otley Road, Bradford. This was the prelude to a bigger local movement which was well-recorded. On the 21st, 53 birds flew north-west over Thornton Moor but the next day, early in the morning, 244 birds congregated on Mixenden Reservoir, tantalisingly just outside our area. Later in the afternoon the whole flock took to the air and most passed over Oxenhope where observers counted 185 birds flying northwards, comfortably a group record (HC, RP). On the same day, smaller flocks comprised 28 over Keighley Moor, 22 on Warley Moor Reservoir and 10 birds (rising to 12 on the following day) on Lindley Wood Reservoir. On 5th April, eight birds flew over Tong Park (Baildon), and the following day possibly the same birds were at Lower Barden Reservoir. !4 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus Seen regularly overflying on passage, and occasionally as a winter visitor. Compared to the previous year there was a considerable reduction in the aggregate total number of birds reported. The total of 6800 was under half that of 2014, though that was a record-breaking year. Other figures followed this downward trend, with just 27 day counts of skeins of over 100, down by a third, but more typical of an average year. A third of the birds were seen in the first part of the year as they generally moved from east to west, the bulk of the passage taking place between 14th January and 11th February. The first of the 100+ was seen in Wharfedale but all the others were watched in Airedale or further south in the Queensbury area. However, the return passage in autumn consisted of some sizable flocks. At the Oxenhope Watchpoint, during October, day counts of 269 on 13th, 745 on 25th and 310 on the 31st were made. During this same month, at Caldene fields, 164 passed over on the 8th, but a more productive period was during November when 480 were counted on the 8th and a week later skeins of up to 243. The first day of November was a day of general movement, with 500 birds flying down Wharfedale and another 100 went over Haworth. In March, three birds rested in fields at Low Dam and another was associating with Canada Geese on Keighley Moor. During April, singles were reported at Redcar Tarn, Lower Barden Reservoir and Otley Wetland, whilst two birds were at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits and another single was on Warley Moor Reservoir during May. During migration watch, a single bird was seen in the fields close to the watchpoint at Oxenhope. GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser Common resident breeder, and passage visitor. There were 14 three-figure counts, a considerable increase on the two previous years, all originating from Wharfedale and the Washburn. Lindley Wood, Fewston and Scargill Reservoirs remain the locations with the greatest concentrations. At the end of the breeding season and during early autumn, flocks of up to 500 had gathered at the first site. The other two sites regularly attracted over 300 birds. Breeding was confirmed at 13 well-spread locations, with adults on nests and with goslings seen at most of them. At Otley Wetland, 30 young !5 birds were counted at the end of May and other successful broods were seen at Burley Moor, Denton Moor, Leeshaw Reservoir, Dowley Gap, Lower Barden Reservoir, Kex Gill, Bradup, Keighley Moor and Warley Moor Reservoir. CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis Common resident breeder. The 19 three-figure counts were very much in line with the previous year, the biggest concentrations being at 11 locations, with Warley Moor Reservoir attracting a site record number of over 400 birds in July. When conditions were right, large wintering flocks seemed to move between Cullingworth and Cononley Ings, where numbers peaked at 270 at the end of November. Scargill Reservoir attracted 185 birds in January and in the south of the area, Park Dam saw sizable flocks of up to 150 in October. Pairs of adults with goslings were seen at nine sites and a sitting bird with six eggs was noted at another. A pair successfully raised four young in a field by the traffic lights on Bingley Road, Bradford and the pairs at Keighley Moor Reservoir were seen to engage their broods in flying lessons, encouraging them to fly the length of the water and back! The 400 at Warley Moor Reservoir in July included many young birds. BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis Probable escapee and uncommon passage/winter visitor.