The Stonechat is a common breeder but it suffered a downward trend from 2009 which, unfortunately, has been maintained into 2011. In 2010, on Barden Moor, three breeding pairs were seen, pairs raised young at Weecher Reservoir and on Black Moor, Denholme, and at or near Whetstone Gate perhaps the same pair raised two broods. Passage birds were largely limited to a few ones and twos. In 2011 numbers certainly hadn't recovered from the population crash of 2009, but appear to be showing a modest improvement. Including migrants, around 60 birds were seen (50% up on last year), but the highest site count of seven on Whetstone Gate in September was well ahead of the rest. Breeding numbers were similar to 2010. A total of seven pairs raised at least 17 young at Whetstone Gate, and on Ilkley, Baildon, Barden, Haworth and Beamsley Moors. Photo: Stephen Lilley.
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
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The Wheatear is a migrant breeder and passage visitor and counting the bird as it passes through the area is often pursued enthusiastically by a number of observers. The spring passage total in 2010 was about 420, and the autumn aggregate 250. Many arrivals around 20th April produced several double-figure day totals, the highest of which was 24 at Trough Lane, Denholme, on that date, and there was a similar total of 23 at Oxenhope in early May. Seventeen birds there in late July was the best of the autumn totals. The presence of downy young around this time (for the third consecutive year) once again suggests possible local breeding. The year’s highlight, however, must be the discovery of a bird on Ovenden Moor on 15th November, which remained until 23rd November, to become the latest ever Yorkshire record. Three birds near Silsden on 13th March 2011 were the earliest for 18 years. Birds showing characteristics of O.o.leucorhoa (Greenland Wheatear) were seen in September near Oxenhope, and on Soil Hill. Another was there in October, and two were near Thornton in that month (see bottom photo). The presence of a female with four downy young at Whetstone Gate in late July is a fairly good pointer towards breeding having taken place there. Photo: David Barker (top), Brian Vickers (bottom).
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
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Ring Ouzel is an increasingly uncommon migrant breeder. Spring migrants in 2010 were seen at Trough Lane and at Oxenhope . Departing birds comprised Oxenhope individuals in October, and a notably late bird on 9th November. Two birds were also seen at Paul Clough and Soil Hill and one was on Barden Moor. There were just five reports make 2011 the worst on record. Apart from a bird at Warley Moor on 28th March, all the sightings were in April. Individuals were found at Thruscross on the 7th, and four days later at Warley Moor, followed by one on Burley Moor (a traditional site) on the 19th, and another on Soil Hill on the 23rd. Photo: David Barker.
Blackbird Turdus merula
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This species is a very common resident breeder and winter visitor with many records pointing to a healthy local population. In 2010 there were several site counts of up to 10 birds in spring and summer, with 20 singing males along Pitty Beck (Bradford) the highest. Winter visitors no doubt accounted for the biggest counts of 27 in Queensbury and 30 at Lindley Wood Reservoir. The hard conditions late in the year didn’t prevent a male singing in sub-zero temperatures in Morrison’s car park, Girlington, on the extraordinarily early date of 7th December. Photo: Paul King.
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Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
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Fieldfare are winter visitors and passage migrants. Fairly recently there has been a trend towards relatively small winter flocks, and a maximum of 250 in March 2010 was modest indeed. However, the totals of arriving birds again lived up to expectations. 2010's seasonal aggregate of some 25,700 seen from Oxenhope was only marginally short of record set in 2009, and the total was boosted by 8600 over Caldene Fields, and 1600 at Wingate Nick, the latter all on 20th October. Big numbers were clearly moving around this period, and Oxenhope’s 6700 on that date was yet another record, overshadowing slightly five other big day totals of between 1300 and 5200. This last was on the 24th, when over 5800 were seen from Caldene. In 2011, once again, really big winter flocks were scarce (300 at Storiths in early March being much the biggest), the same can’t be said of the numbers of incoming autumn birds, which again broke all records. Oxenhope watchpoint again led the way, with a seasonal total of 27,000. Whilst this was only marginally more than the 2009 record aggregate, the day total of 11,900 on 13th October was anything but, exceeding by over 5,000 the previous record. Other counts here were rather overshadowed, but six other days produced between 1,160 and 2,300 birds. Surprisingly, Caldene Fields’ autumn total of 3,600 was well below most years, and was behind Denholme Clough’s 4,070, but a few other sites contributed around 2,300 birds, to give what, by any standards, was a considerable autumn total. Photo: Stephen Lilley.
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Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
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This species is a resident breeder and winter visitor. The picture in 2010 was about the same as in 2009, with five birds at Ogden in April the most, apart from day counts of 11 and 16 autumn migrants. In that year there were typically nine breeding reports are in line with the previous year, In 2011, though there was probably no change in local status, breeding pairs were down to five, and there was little evidence of autumn migration, though the highest aggregate of eight in Denholme Clough in late September were probably birds on passage. Photo: Brian Vickers.
Redwing Turdus iliacus
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Redwing are winter visitors and passage migrants and like the Fieldfare, winter flock sizes in 2010, were again down, and counts didn’t get beyond 100. However, unlike Fieldfare, autumn migration numbers were also well down, with seasonal totals of 2700 from Caldene Fields and 5900 for Oxenhope, although there was a good day count of 2900 there on 10th October. Birds again visited many gardens in the freezing conditions late in the year. 2011 was an exceptional year for Redwing passage. The big passage of Fieldfare on 13th October coincided with a large movement of these thrushes, and about 5,100 were seen from Oxenhope on that date, and some 3,700 the day after. However, 14th October belonged to Caldene Fields, as a quite staggering 29,370 birds were recorded there, not only, by miles, a Group record, but the second-highest ever day count in the UK, and showing what can be turned up from an apparently fairly unprepossessing birding spot in South Bradford. Not surprisingly, the movement on these two days represented just about the entire autumn migration, as Oxenhope’s total wasn’t much more, at 10,900, nor was Caldene’s 30,800. Though, in comparison, distinctly modest, Denholme Clough’s total for these dates was 3,000. Also relatively modest were winter flock sizes, but at least reached three figures at Caldene Fields in February (150) and at Menston a month later (100). Photo: Stephen Lilley.
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Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
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The Mistle Thrush is a resident breeder and passage migrant. There are marked fluctuations in this bird’s fortunes, in 2010 there were only eight breeding reports, and the biggest post-breeding flock of 20 was down on most other recent years. Autumn migration counts of 218 at Oxenhope and 103 at Caldene boosted the totals, and included a day count of 40 at the first location. 2011 in general, was one of the better recent years, particularly for breeding success, as 13 pairs raised young at 10 sites. Post-breeding flock sizes were also notable. There were ten in double figures, including three of 30 birds, one of 56 at Caldene Fields in August, and 80 in the same month near Barden, this last jointly the biggest on record, and the largest since 1987. In contrast, autumn migrants were fewer, with no more than 114 past Oxenhope. Photo: Malcolm Stones.
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