2003 Report

2004 Report

2006 Report

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RED-THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
Rare winter and passage visitor
A bird seen flying south over Denholme Clough on 2nd October provides a record for the second successive year, and is the fourth in all (MD, SJ). Unfortunately, like the other recent record, it played to only a small but receptive audience.

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis
Fairly common resident breeder, winter and passage visitor.
This species was reported from 24 locations, slightly up on 2004, and throughout the year. These included the less than regular sites of St. Ives where a bird was present in April, and Silsden Reservoir, which had one in October. The only double-figure count came from Knotford Nook, where ten birds were present in late January, but there was a notable count of seven birds on Tong Park Reservoir on two dates in autumn and winter.

Breeding was definitely established on the River Wharfe and at a private location, and possibly took place at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Common resident breeder, and passage visitor.
This species is usually well-recorded, and this year records came from ten widespread locations, but mainly from the Otley area and Washburn Valley. Up to seven birds were regularly reported, but the only double-figure count (excluding family groups) came from Yeadon Tarn, where wintering birds peaked at ten on 10th February.

There was evidence of attempted or successful breeding at Lindley Wood Reservoir, Hewenden Reservoir (two young), Otley Wetland Nature Reserve and Swinsty Reservoir. Four juvenile birds were seen at both of the last two sites. The number of breeding attempts is much in line with recent years, but with rather more young birds fledged.

GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Locally common resident, passage and winter visitor.
There were around 200 records of this now common species in the area. Around 25% of these came from locations away from the strongholds in the Washburn Valley and Wharfedale, indicating that birds are apparently starting to spread out and relocate.

There is still a healthy (or, for some observers, unhealthy) population based on Lindley Wood Reservoir, where the monthly maxima recorded were 34 in February, 20 in July, 67 in August and 55 in September. These numbers are, however, somewhat down on other recent years. Double-figure counts elsewhere in this general area are no doubt attributable to this population, with up to 21 birds being seen on a number of occasions at Otley Wetland.

Elsewhere, there were double-figure counts of 12 birds at Eldwick Reservoir in September, 11 at Silsden Reservoir in October, and 20 at Chelker Reservoir and 28 at Elland Gravel Pits, both in December.

It will no doubt be of some comfort to the antagonists that there is so far no evidence of breeding in the area. However, courtship display was noted at Lindley Wood on 6th August.

On the basis of the good views provided and identification features noted, it is considered several birds present at Lindley Wood showed characteristics of the Continental race P. c. sinensis. These consisted of twelve on 3rd March, one on 3rd and 5th April, and at least seven on 27th July and 6th August. There was also a bird at Otley Wetland on 25th February.

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Rare vagrant. Two records this year increases the running total to seven. On 7th July, a bird spent the afternoon at Leeshaw Reservoir (RHP, KM, BV), and, again in the south of the recording area, one was seen at Cringles, near Silsden, on 18th September (JLT).

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GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
Common resident and colonial breeder.
As usual, this species was well-recorded throughout the year, with most reports coming from the northern and central sectors of the area. There were only two double-figure counts away from the breeding colonies: 20 near Hirstwood on 10th January, and 12 there on 24th.

The two main breeding sites had collectively the same number of nests as in 2004, and slightly fewer young birds. At Askwith 40 nests generated 77 young, and at a private location the slightly increased total of seventeen nests produced 50 young, up on last year. The steady decline of the formerly productive Dob Park colony appears to be terminal, as this year there was no breeding there. Elsewhere, three young were raised from five nests at Luddendenfoot, and nest-building was noted at Elland Gravel Pits. Juvenile birds were seen on several occasions at Barden, and at Timble Ings, Otley Wetland and Lindley Wood Reservoir, at least some of which will have presumably originated from the two local breeding areas.

An all-dark bird at Lower Laithe Reservoir on 9th July caused some initial excitement, but was found to be a melanistic Grey Heron.

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WHITE STORK Circonia circonia
Possible rare vagrant, and annual escapee.
Single birds were seen in the Leathley area on 14th and 15th May. Whilst these are typical dates for vagrants, the chances must be high that they came from no further afield than Harewood.

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