2003 Report

2004 Report

2006 Report

MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor
Common resident breeder.

The number of records, numbers of birds, and the maximum count (28 birds at Otley Wetland on 6th May) are all in line with other recent years. Colour-ringed birds were seen at three locations, indicating some movement both within and from outside the recording area.

Evidence of breeding was first noted on 10th April, and took place at six locations at least. Three pairs bred at Otley Wetland, a pair at a private site, two pairs at Knotford Nook, and, on the canal, two pairs at Silsden and a pair at Micklethwaite and Crossflatts. Specific data on breeding success was not entirely forthcoming, but 13 young were ringed at Knotford Nook and Otley, 10 juveniles were seen at Silsden, four at Micklethwaite, and the same number at Crossflatts.

A particularly spectacular, if gory, incident was witnessed at Stockbridge Nature Reserve, when two swans were described as literally fighting to the death, with the weaker of the two surviving only by obtaining refuge under a willow close to the hide (SR).

BEWICK’S SWAN Cygnus columbianus
Scarce passage visitor

Increasingly scarce in the area, this species was seen for the third successive year, when two birds were found at Leeshaw Reservoir on 10th November (BV, KM).

WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus
Uncommon but regular passage visitor.

This was the quietest year since 2001, with only 12 records, almost all of which comprised birds on spring migration.

Double-figure counts came from Lindley Wood Reservoir, where 16 were present on 4th March, Swinsty Reservoir, which had 32 birds on 21st March, and Barden Scale, where 17 birds were seen flying north on 5th April. Elsewhere during this regular passage period there were three birds at Otley Wetland on 16th March and one on the 22nd, three at Mixenden Reservoir on 19th, two at Silsden Reservoir on 2nd April, and also two at Thornton Moor Reservoir a week later.

The only winter sightings were of two birds at Otley Wetland on 2nd January, two over Northowram on 10th November, four past Luddenden Dean on 14th, and one at Graincliffe Reservoir on 6th December.

BEAN GOOSE Anser fabalis
Scarce migrant and winter visitor

A bird found with Greylag Geese on 9th January near Leeshaw Reservoir was present on and off until 2nd April (PC et al). This constitutes only the third Group record. The bird was assigned to the race A. f. rossicus (Tundra Bean Goose), which is considered by some authorities to constitute a separate species.

Back to top of page

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus
Seen regularly over-flying on passage, and occasionally as a winter visitor.

The majority of the records for this species are of birds seen overflying the area on migration, or relocating from their wintering grounds on the east coast to the north-west. This usually takes place in the first two months of the year, with most birds being seen in February. This year’s movement was untypically early, and numbers in January far exceeded those in the following month.

Members out on New Year’s Day were rewarded with a significant movement of geese right from the start of the year, and the whole month, together with the first few days of February, saw a spectacular passage of birds. The three-figure flocks (or day location totals of three-figures) are as follows:

January 1st Barden Scale 198 in two flocks, Baildon 145 in two flocks, Esholt 185 in two flocks, Oxenhope 110
January 13th Barden Scale 110
January 15th Thornton Moor Reservoir 734 in various flocks
January 16th Thornton Moor Reservoir 2070 in various flocks, Queensbury 300
February 3rd Oxenhope 230, Northowram 300
February 5th Barden Scale 140
With the inclusion of smaller numbers seen, the total number of birds passing through in the first winter period was about 5100, and the birds overflying Thornton Moor on 16th January constitute a daily site record for the Group (DCB).

The numbers of birds arriving for the winter were, as usual, less spectacular, and only four flocks comprised more than 100 birds. These consisted of 430 birds over Cold Edge Dams on 9th October and 105 on 11th, 150 at Thornton Moor two days later, and 110 near Marley on 7th November. The first winter arrivals were noted on 11th September at Thornton Moor and the total movement during this period involved about 1300 birds.

Single-figure counts comprised almost all the remaining sightings between March and September, and usually involved birds in company with Canada or Greylag Geese. The exception was a party of up to seventeen birds which were present in fields adjoining Otley Wetland from 25th March to 27th April.

Back to top of page

GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser
Common resident breeder, and passage visitor.

The last few years have seen flocks of record sizes, and many three-figure totals. This year there were only two counts of this size : 300 birds at Norwood Bottom on 11th January, and 170 at Chelker Reservoir five days later. None of this necessarily points to a change in the birds’ status in this area, as, like all the resident geese, they are known to wander.

During the rest of the year, there were only a few dates when flocks approaching 100 birds were seen, and the relevant monthly maxima were 70 at Reva Reservoir in February, 80 at Knotford Nook in March, 95 at Lindley Wood Reservoir in August, with a count of 90 there in December, and over Denton Moor in November.

A more significant pointer to the species’ status is the extent of breeding success, and, happily, this was well-recorded. Details in respect of the main sites are:

Cold Edge Dams A total of five young were seen at the end of May.
Kex Gill Quarry At least three pairs had a minimum of eleven downy young
Barden Moor Seven pairs raised 15 young
Otley Wetland A pair hatched seven young, one of which was predated, but the remainder appeared to fledge.
Rombald’s Moor At least three young reared
Weecher Reservoir Ten juveniles were seen on 26th June, which had clearly been raised in the immediate vicinity
River Wharfe Thirteen goslings seen
Bingley (River Aire) Six young seen

In addition, there were at least two breeding pairs along the canal between Bingley and Saltaire, two pairs were on Bingley Moor, and a bird was discovered incubating eggs at Leeshaw.

As in some previous years, a bird with an orange neck-collar was seen, indicating its origins in the York area.

Back to top of page

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
Common resident breeder.

Records submitted indicate this species’ common status in the area remains unchanged. Observations came from 28 widespread locations, although it is probable these involve an interchange of the same birds, particularly in the Wharfe and Washburn Valleys.

Three-figure gatherings were seen at six locations, and the monthly maxima at the two major ones were:

Elsewhere, there were 150 birds at Fewston Reservoir in March, and 288 in July (the year’s largest count), 166 at Warley Moor Reservoir in July, and, in August, 103 birds at Cold Edge Dams and 111 at Lindley Wood Reservoir.

There was evidence of successful breeding at Otley Wetland, St. Ives, Middleton Moor, Warley Moor, Cold Edge Dams, the reservoirs at Leeshaw and Weecher, and on the River Wharfe, this representing eight less such locations than in 2004.

Back to top of page

BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis
Probable escapee and uncommon passage/winter visitor.

Single birds were seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 10th September, and flying east over Denholme Clough on 25th. Given the timing, this could have represented genuine migration, or it might have been the bird seen widely in this same general area in 2004.
Back to top of page