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BIRDS OF LANGLIFFE
Although not a particularly large parish in total area, Langcliffe boasts a variety of different habitats for birds. The riverside and the mill reservoir attract waterside species, and the quarry and the scars are good for cliff nesting. The higher deciduous woods and plantations have a differing range of birds to the valley woods and parkland, and the rougher grassland behind the scars also differs in species from the limestone grassland around
Winskill. This produces a good range of birds, whether breeding, winter visitors or on passage at migration times. 107 species are known to have occurred within the parish boundary, and others may have done so undetected. For example Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl and Lapland Bunting have all been recorded in the parish of Malham Moor not far from the Langcliffe boundary: did they cross the line?
The birds regularly seen in the parish in summer and in winter are listed by main habitat zone in
the Tables. Note that many species are seen in more than one of the habitat types, but for simplicity they have been shown in the zone in which they are most common. The exceptions are falcons and gulls, commonly seen overhead anywhere in the parish, which are shown spanning the zones.
REGULAR BIRDS OF LANGCLIFFE - WINTER
River and Mill Reservoir Village and Valley Valley Slopes and Winskill High Moor
.. Kestrel ..
.. Peregrine ..
....................................................... Black-headed Gull .................................
.. Lesser Black-backed Gull
.. Common Gull ..
Sparrowhawk Goldcrest
Wood Pigeon Coal Tit
CollaredDove BlueTit
Tawny Owl Great Tit
Great Spotted Woodpecker Nuthatch
Wren Treecreeper
Dunnock Magpie
Robin Rook
Blackbird Starling
Fieldfare House sparrow
Mallard Redwing Chaffinch Jackdaw
Kingfisher Mistle Thrush Brambling Carrion Crow
Dipper Goldfinch Greenfinch Raven
REGULAR BIRDS OF LANGCLIFFE - SUMMER
River and Mill Reservoir Village and Valley Valley Slopes and Winskill High Moor
.. Kestrel ..
.. Peregrine ..
....................................................... Lesser Black-backed Gull .................................
Sparrowhawk
Pheasant
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Tawny Owl
Swift
Swallow
House Martin
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush
BlackcapRook
Willow Warbler
Heron Blue Tit
Mallard Great Tit Lapwing
Goosander Magpie Little OwlCoot Starling Redstart Grey Partridge
Kingfisher House Sparrow Wheatear Snipe
Grey Wagtail Chaffinch Jackdaw Curlew
Pied Wagtail Greenfinch Carrion Crow Skylark
Dipper Goldfinch Linnet Meadow Pipit
A complete list of species known to have occurred in the parish, together with their scientific names and notes on their status, is given in the Appendix. The author would be pleased to hear of any further additions to the list or any amplification of the status of particular species.
We do know that numbers of some birds have changed considerably, over the last century (for example the loss of Corncrakes and the appearance of Little Owls) or in some cases the last decade or so (such as the appearance of Collared Doves and the reduced numbers of several farmland species). On the credit side Woodpeckers and Goldfinches have made modest gains since 1900, but the list of declining species is sadly much longer.
What we can do to help the currently threatened species is not always clear. Stock Doves for example may have suffered from predation by the returning Peregrines, and their young may be taken by Little Owls. Tree Pipits, Spotted Flycatchers and Whitethroats have probably been affected by climate or habitat change on their African wintering grounds. This is also likely to apply to Yellow Wagtails, although for this species further drainage of damp grassland here may also be a factor. However increased disturbance locally from sheep and humans may be responsible for the loss of breeding Ring Ouzels and increased grazing levels are likely to have contributed to lower numbers of Grey Partridges, Cuckoos, Meadow Pipits (the Cuckoos' hosts), House Sparrows and Linnets. For these birds the government supported countryside stewardship initiatives to provide farming subsidies which include an environmental wardenship element may be beneficial.
What would increase the bird population in the parish is more tree planting. With relatively little tree cover at present, any necessary woodland management has a disproportionate effect on breeding birds in particular. Recent clearances at Clay Pits Plantation for example have probably caused the loss of nesting Redstarts until there is sufficient regeneration, whereas if there was more suitable woodland for them nearby there might be a drop in numbers but the species would still be present. On a larger scale, the significant tree felling along the railway line last winter will result in a large reduction in breeding birds on the embankments in Summer 2000. More tree planting, preferably of deciduous species, would be a positive step for birds and for most other forms of wildlife.
Gerald Light
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APPENDIX
THE BIRDS OF LANGCLIFFE - A SYSTEMATIC LIST
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - occasional passage/winter visitor on river and at mill reservoir.
Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) - one record of a presumably storm driven bird on the mill reservoir on 31 August 1988.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - occasional winter visitor on river or mill reservoir.
Heron (Ardea cinerea) - does not breed in parish but single birds regularly seen by river and upland streams.
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - bred once at mill reservoir in 1950s, but now only an occasional visitor.
Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhyncus) - small flocks have been seen and/or heard flying over in autumn/winter.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) - occasional birds fly over, possibly en route to or from Malham Tarn.
Teal (Anas crecca) - rare winter visitor to the mill reservoir.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) - common breeder and autumn/winter visitor.
Pochard (Aythya ferina) - occasional winter visitor on river or mill reservoir.
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) - occasional winter visitor on river or mill reservoir.
Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) - occasional passage/winter visitor on river and at mill reservoir.
Goosander (Mergus merganser) - occasional passage/winter visitor on river; may breed.
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) - one record of a 'creamcrown' (a female or an immature bird) flying west over Cowside on 21 August 1996.
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) - occasional autumn/winter visitor on higher ground.
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - most common raptor in winter, though males then rare. May not always breed within parish but seen throughout year.
Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - occasional autumn/winter visitor.
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - regular over Winskill and round Jubilee and Victoria Caves; numbers lower in winter. Probably 3 - 4 pairs breed in the parish annually.
Merlin (Falco columbarius) - occasional passage and winter visitor on higher ground.
Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) - breeding resumed in 1980s with sightings at all times of year.
Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) - has bred near Cowside in the past, but now extinct in the area.
Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) - declining sparse breeder in rougher grassland and perhaps on railway embankments.
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - annual releases and feeding of sporting birds take place south of Settle, whence occasional individuals reach Langcliffe. A chick was seen at Barrel Sykes in June 1998, and the species may now breed annually in the parish.
Corncrake (Crex crex) - recorded as not uncommon in the area in the 1890s. Probably still bred within the parish in the early 1900s, but does not now occur.
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) - resident, breeding by river and/or at mill reservoir.
Coot (Fulica atra) - one or two pairs have bred in recent years at mill reservoir, usually returning in February.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) - seen and heard following Ribble valley on passage (breeds both to the north and south of Langcliffe along the river, and at Malham Tarn).
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) - occasionally seen on passage and, unusually, in winter.
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - breeds on damp pastures with short turf on higher ground. The breeding population nationally is in severe decline but recent numbers locally appear to be fairly constant. Arrives end February/early March, and most depart in July. One unusual record was of a bird on the lawn of the Bowerley Hotel on 17 January 1985.
Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - breeds at one site on parish boundary, and occasionally seen on higher ground in autumn/winter.
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) - may breed but not proven. Occasional single birds have been recorded at higher level on open moor in late autumn and in winter.
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) - passage birds have been seen and/or heard calling while flying over.
Curlew (Numenius arquata) - breeds on unimproved moorland. Main arrival in neighbouring valleys is in mid February, and usually displaying on breeding sites by mid March. Normally departed back to valley flocks by August.
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) - summer visitor, April to August, seen on passage along Ribble valley. Has bred in the parish.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) - can be seen in or over the valley all year, but in larger numbers in winter months.
Common Gull (Larus canus) - common winter visitor, July - late April, mostly adults.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - seen in small numbers throughout the parish all year, but more in summer. The former Langcliffe refuse tip attracted larger numbers, with 100 present there on 5 May 1981.
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - formerly attracted by the refuse tip, where 50 were present on 24 May 1983. Occasional birds are still seen in winter.
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) - occasionally seen over the higher ground in winter. Used to visit the refuse tip in small numbers.
Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - formerly bred at the quarry, and probably still does elsewhere in barns or on crags.
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) - present all year, with winter numbers increasing in good beechmast years.
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) - has bred in the village since the mid 1990s.
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) - formerly a regular summer visitor but now scarce.
Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - formerly bred in the parish, but not recorded since 1984.
Little Owl (Athene noctua) - first recorded in the area in the 1940s, now resident. 3-4 pairs breed most years in trees, cliffs, quarries and out-barns. Most conspicuous in late summer.
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) - present all year.
Swift (Apus apus) - summer visitor present from early May to mid August, breeding in the village.
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) - regular in Ribble valley, and may breed in the parish. Numbers reduce after hard winters.
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) - one pair normally breeds in the parish. Less obvious in winter when it is less vocal.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) - at least 3 pairs normally breed in the parish, and regularly seen in winter months.
Skylark (Alauda arvensis) - breeds on rough upland grassland, normally present from February to September
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) - summer visitor from late March/April to July/August, following the river on passage. Does not breed in the parish.
Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - breeds in village, present late April to August/September.
House Martin (Delichon urbica) - breeds in village, present late April to early October.
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) - summer visitor from late April to August. Formerly bred in the higher woodland but now scarce.
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) - breeds on unimproved grassland. Most birds arrive in March, departing September/October, but occasional birds are seen in winter.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) - summer visitor from April to August. Formerly bred on damp grassland near the river but now scarce and mostly seen on passage.
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) - mainly a summer visitor to Langcliffe weir arriving March/April, and departing July-October, but occasional birds may winter. One was seen by the fountain in the middle of the village in October 1985.
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) - common summer visitor, often seen on roadside stone walls, taking stunned insects for food. Arrives March/April, most gone by October; scarce in winter.
Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) - resident on Ribble, nest building from early February with flying young from early May.
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - common resident, although numbers reduce in hard winters.
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) - common if unobtrusive resident.
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - common resident, supplemented in winter by immigrant birds, probably from the continent.
Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) - summer visitor arriving late April and leaving August/September. Breeds in small numbers in older deciduous trees or stone walls.
Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) - occasional passage birds can be seen in spring and autumn.
Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) - occasional birds seen on passage, March/April and October/November.
Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) - summer visitor, breeding in rabbit holes, under stones on scree and, most commonly, in stone walls . Arrives late March, most departed by early/mid September.
Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) - a common summer visitor from March to October in 1890s and still bred on the scars in the 1960s, but now an uncommon passage bird.
Blackbird (Turdus merula) - common throughout the year. Most local breeders migrate, to be replaced by winter visitors, probably from the continent. (At Malham Tarn, 8 kilometres to the east, there is an obvious passage of this species in March and in October/November).
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) - winter visitor in varying numbers from late October to late April, and sometimes into May.
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - breeds, albeit in reduced numbers. Most depart for winter in September/October, returning February/March.
Redwing (Turdus iliacus) - winter visitor between October and April, often accompanying Fieldfare. Largest numbers usually in October/November; scarce in spring.
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) - resident in small numbers, often forming small flocks in autumn and winter to feed on rowan and hawthorn berries.
Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - common summer visitor from May to August before 1969 national population crash; now occasionally heard singing on railway embankments.
Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) - summer visitor between May and August in small numbers. Probably breeds annually in woodland areas.
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) - summer visitor to deciduous woodland, arriving late April and departing August/September when numbers swelled by autumn passage. Could possibly be attracted to bird tables in winter.
Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) - occasional birds heard singing during May in woodland.
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - not known to breed in the parish but occasional on passage in March/April and August/September.
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - abundant summer visitor, arriving in April and most departing by August.
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) - regular in conifers, with autumn influxes from the continent. Suffers heavy losses in severe winters, but probably breeds in the parish annually.
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) - summer visitor to large gardens and woods, arriving throughout May and departing by mid September.
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) - occasional birds seen on passage, mainly in May, and has been heard singing at Langcliffe Hall.
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) - occasional birds may be seen in winter and probably breeds in some years.
Coal Tit (Parus ater) - sparse breeder in conifers, more likely to be seen in gardens in winter months.
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) - common resident.
Great Tit (Parus major) - common resident.
Nuthatch (Sitta eoropaea caesia) - has bred at Langcliffe Hall; seen on bird tables in winter.
Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) - small numbers resident, but population levels reduce after hard winters.
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) - occasional visitor usually in autumn/ early winter. Scarcity of oaks in the parish is the likely reason for no breeding records.
Magpie (Pica pica) - common resident, considerably increased since mid 1970s.
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - common resident breeding on scars, at the quarry and in trees.
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) - common resident with a conspicuous rookery at the church and a small one at Barrel Sykes.
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone corone) - common resident.
Raven (Corvus corax) - regular visitor particularly in winter around Jubilee and Victoria Caves. The species formerly bred at Attermire.
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) - common resident, though in reducing numbers. In the early 1990s large flocks roosted in the plantations above Cowside.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - resident round farms and habitations but in declining numbers.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) - common resident. A flock of 300 was seen near Langcliffe Hall on 13 January 1983.
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) - occasional autumn passage and winter visitor, attracted by good crops of beechmast.
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) - conspicuous breeding bird from March/April to September/October; fewer winter.
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - a few pairs breed, and late summer/autumn flocks can be seen particularly feeding on thistle seeds. Fewer winter.
Siskin (Carduelis spinus) - occasional passage migrant and winter visitor, to riverside alders and birches, conifer woods and village bird tables.
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) - declining breeding bird, present from late April/May to September.
Twite (Carduelis flavirostris) - declining summer visitor to neighbouring upland parishes, and small passage flocks have been seen in Langcliffe. Occasionally seen feeding on the village green in May.
Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - summer visitor from late April to September which probably formerly bred in conifer plantations, but is now scarce.
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) - occasionally seen in winter in small numbers.
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) - occasional winter visitor to high ground.
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) - occasional passage birds occur by the river in late March/April.
References:
The Avi-fauna of Settle and Upper Ribblesdale, Edward Peake, in 'The Naturalist' 1896.
Birds of Settle, Brian Shorrock, privately published 1986.
Brian Shorrock, personal commentary.
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