Shelduck were back at their stronghold in the Group’s recording area, Otley Gravel Pits, by 2nd January when a male was present. There were regular sightings at this site until 7th June with the maximum of 3 being seen on 27th February. On 7th June an adult was seen with a juvenile but not seen subsequently.

Elsewhere, two were at Elland Gravel Pits on 3rd January, a singleton was at Chelker on 12th January, a male turned up at Kex Gill on 16th March, a female dropped in at Thornton Moor Reservoir before heading south-west on 23rd April, and a pair were at Fewston Reservoir on 27th April.

The only two autumn sightings which occurred happened to be the highest counts for the year. On 23rd August 14 flew south over Denholme Clough. The final record was of seven on Chelker Reservoir on 14th September.

One of the highest counts was the first record of the year, when five were at Thornton Moor Reservoir as early as 2nd January. Singles were seen throughout the month at Otley Wetland and Fewston Reservoir, the latter holding the high count of seven on 24th January. Lone birds continued to be seen at Otley Wetland until the end of March. On 8th February, three were seen flying up the Aire Valley at Farnhill Ings, and a week later, a pair was at Otley Wetland, with possibly the same birds being seen throughout April and into May. Three flew over Thornton Moor Reservoir on 28th March, and a pair was seen at Denton Park Lake on 30th April.

In summer, there were single juveniles at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 19th July, Swinsty Reservoir on 30th , and at John o’Gaunt’s Reservoir on 8th August. Three birds again passed Thornton Moor on 25th July. The floods at Silsden held two immatures on 4th and 5th September, and four were seen flying over Glovershaw three weeks later, with perhaps the same birds at Lindley Wood on 26th. In October, three more birds were on passage at Thornton Moor, and the final sighting of the year was possibly a returning adult at Otley Wetland on 30th December.

In a not very productive year, Otley Wetland had the majority of the records. The first of these was a single bird on 21st January, with four here the following day, and up to two on several days in February, March, April and June.

The only other reports came from Leeshaw Reservoir on 12th February and Sandbeds Flash on 23rd April, when two birds were present at both, from Warley Moor Reservoir, which had three on 13th April, and the year’s only autumn record, of four birds at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 17th October.

There was no evidence of breeding.

The number of records in the past two years has been well down on what was regularly produced in the 1990’s, and there has been, in particular, a marked reduction in the sightings at Otley Wetland, formerly a stronghold and the site of regular breeding.

Only 14 records were involved in 2006, of which no more than five originated from Otley, and there was no suggestion of breeding there or elsewhere. The year’s first arrival was seen here on 2nd March, and four were present on the 20th, but most of the spring records were in April, when up to four were at Cononley Ings early in the month, and a movement during the last week produced a bird at Stockbridge on the 23rd, and a total of three in the Otley and Knotford areas three days later. The two reports for the following month were of singles over Marley Hall Farm on the 7th, and Otley Wetland on the 8th.

A reportedly large movement in late August resulted in six birds being seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir on the 18th, and a very good count (and the year’s highest) of 18 birds, including 14 juveniles, there three days later. Further relocation was noted at Doe Park Reservoir a month later, when three birds flew south on the 20th, and two birds at Swinsty Reservoir on 10th November, and one at Otley Wetland on the 14th completed the year’s reports.

The downward trend continues, and Shelduck has now become a scarce bird in the area.

There were only six records, involving just eight birds. On 15th January a bird was at Chelker Reservoir, and the Aire Valley floods produced a single at Silsden Ings on the 12th, with two birds at Cononley Ings on 30th March. On 15th April a bird was located at Warley Moor Reservoir, and the following day there was one at Otley Wetland, until recently something of a stronghold for this species. After a gap of five months, the year’s final sighting was of two birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 15th September.