2004 Report

2005 Report

2006 Report

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LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
Fairly common resident breeder, winter and passage visitor.
Double figure counts have been hard to come by in recent years with only a couple of sites coming close. Knotford Nook led the way with a maximum of 16 seen in December 2003. The only other site to have double figures was Chelker Reservoir but only after three pairs bred there, 12 were seen in mid-September. Sightings came from 25 locations scattered across the recording area throughout the year.

Another three breeding records came from Low Dam (Thruscross), Dunkirk and a pair was seen at their nest on Silsden Reservoir. The previous two sites had only one young present.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Common resident breeder and passage visitor.
It was a poor year for breeding records with only three sites being reported. Several other sites had birds displaying adults but no records of young. Breeding occurred at Chelker, Ogden and Lindley Wood reservoirs. Only one young was recorded at Chelker and Lindley Wood with just adults on a nest at Ogden.

An adult was seen on Swinsty Reservoir with a fully-grown juvenile late in August, and at Knotford Nook, one had three juveniles in accompaniment during the same month. The year’s highest counts came from the Otley area with 8 being seen on two occasions, at Otley Gravel Pits on 23rd February and at Knotford Nook on 24th October.

GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Locally common resident, passage and winter visitor.
The expansion wavered slightly again this year with the average roost count at about 41 per month at Lindley Wood Reservoir, though this was up on last years but still below 2001. Despite this the highest count was increased again to 89, in October 11 more than last year.

The frequency of sightings in the Aire Valley increased again in 2003. The only sightings of Sinensis Cormorants were individuals at Otley Gravel Pits and Lindley Wood Reservoir in the spring, when the adults show their breeding plumage. This was quite poor in comparison with recent years.

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LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Vagrant: previously recorded in 1997, 2001 and 2002
After the last two years it was fully expected that there would be more records for 2003 than just the two received. Both sightings involved pairs of birds, the first was at Elland Gravel Pits on 5th May which caused quite a stir in the neighbouring area as they were the first record for Halifax birders (BS). It wasn’t until 25th August when the next pair was seen, flying down the Aire Valley, over Bingley (DJM). These were only the fourth and fifth sightings in the groups recording area.

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
Common resident and colonial breeder.
Quite a well recorded species throughout the recording area. Double figure counts away from breeding colonies were as follows; 10 and 12 at Marley sewage works on 18th May and 14th June respectively; at Lindley Wood Reservoir there were 13 on 27th September, 12 on 25th October and 18 on 16th November; the only double figure count in the first half of the year was of 17 at Lindley Trout Farm on 14th January.

Breeding was recorded at three locations. A massive total of 35 nests were found at Askwith, over 100 young were present, there were another 10 nests at Dob Park. At a private site 19 nests produced over 60 young. Back to top of page

WHITE STORK Circonia circonia
Possible scarce vagrant, and annual escapee.
All four sightings were in the months of April and May. The first observation was of a pair over Knotford Nook on 20th April flying down the valley. Five days later a singleton was spotted over Silsden. The next sighting was another individual circling high over Denton Moor on 15th May. On 24th May the final sighting of the year took place when a lone Stork was seen over Reva Reservoir.