This species was reported from many sites across the recording area with breeding evidence coming from Otley Gravel Pits and Bingley Moor, which like many common species is an under-representation.

March and April saw a mini-influx of birds at various sites with six birds each at Otley Gravel Pits, Beaverdyke Reservoir and Kex Gill Quarry. Fewston Reservoir managed eight birds whilst Thornton Moor Reservoir hosted the year’s highest count of 10.

The first to arrive on breeding territory was at Otley Wetland on 21st February, and had to wait until 7th March before it had company. Another week passed before sightings from other locations were noted. Breeding occurred on the moorlands of Ilkley, Rombald’s and Burley, at Otley Wetland and at Thornton Moor Reservoir.

A high count of 11 was reported from Otley Wetland on 19th March, and the last sighting was here, when two were present on 26th October.

The pattern of sightings in the early part of the year was almost identical to 2004. The first arrival was at Sandbeds Flash on 23rd February, with two records in the first week in March, followed by a rush of arrivals from mid-March and throughout April. The maximum gathering in this period was ten birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 1st April, which turned out to be the only double-figure count of the year.

Over 80% of the records came from the first five months, and return passage was light, consisting of no more than three birds on any day, until the last sighting on the early date of 15th August.

Pairs were seen at a number of sites, and breeding was proved to have taken place at Hawksworth Moor, where there were two pairs, Beamsley Moor, where two pairs had young and Ovenden Moor, which had a pair with chicks. Juvenile birds were also seen on Bingley Moor, but a nest at Otley Wetland was predated.

The presence and movements of this bird within the recording area are fairly predictable, and continued to be so in 2006, although the first sighting, at Otley Wetland on 26th January, was a good month earlier than usual. There was only one record in February, and the expected rush didn’t start until the second week in March, following which, there were many reports to the end of May. Again predictably, 70% of the year’s 91 records were for the first five months, and included the highest counts of 11 birds, both on the seasonal floods at Cononley Ings on 16th March and 9th April. Records were otherwise well spread across 22 locations.

Of the few June records, several were in respect of successful breeding, at Whetstone Gate, where there were two juveniles, and at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir, where there were three. Breeding also took place at Otley Wetland, where at least two young fledged, and at Rombald’s Moor, and a newly-fledged bird at Thornton Moor Reservoir had presumably been raised in the general area. However, the presence of pairs at other sites didn’t result in proven breeding.

Most of the records for July and late August no doubt referred to post-breeding dispersal, and all came from Thornton Moor. Allowing for the presence of some birds there for several days, the probability is the total movement involved no more than ten birds. Unlike 2005, birds were seen in November and December, and all came from Cononley Ings and Bradley Ings, where the flooded fields provided an attraction.

Another fairly standard year: birds turned up at the expected time, 90 records were in line with the norm, as were the 26 locations, and there was little activity to report after the end of May.

The first bird was seen on 23rd February at Leeshaw, and during the next two months widespread records included counts of between six and nine birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir, Otley Wetland, Leeshaw and Kex Gill Quarry, and an exceptional twelve, comprising six pairs, at Dunkirk Pond.

Only 14 records covered the second half of the year, involving no more than 19 birds. They did, however, include one of the few breeding records, evidenced by a bird food-carrying near Strid Wood in early July. Elsewhere, birds were said to have bred in small numbers on Burley Moor.

A bird seen in Denholme Clough in September was the only autumn visible migration record, and the few wintering birds were noted, as last year, around Cononley Ings and Snaygill.