Water
Rail |
Moorhen
|
Coot |
WATER
RAIL
Rallus aquaticus
Uncommon but regular winter visitor.
A pleasing number
of records for this secretive species were submitted. Birds were seen
from January to April and from September to the year-end. In the first
winter period singles were regular at Otley Gravel Pits in January and
February with up to three birds observed at Stockbridge in January followed
by an individual here in March and at Marley Sewage Works and Elland Gravel
Pits in January. A single bird was seen at Elland GP in February and one
was at High Royd Sewage works from January until March.
In the second winter period up to two birds were regular at Stockbridge
from 13th September until late December. Otley Gravel Pits played host
to up to three birds in December.
MOORHEN
Gallinula chloropus
Resident breeder.
There were many records for this common resident which can be encountered on almost any body of water, however small. Up to seven were recorded at Stockbridge with double figure counts coming from Esholt Sewage Works for instance 19 in December. This is well down on the numbers that used to be recorded at this site. Breeding was noted at sites including Esholt, Stockbridge, Otley Gravel Pits and Weecher and Ogden Reservoirs.
COMMON
COOT Fulica atra
Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor.
This is another species which is encountered on many different waters. The highest count of the year was 208 at Knotford Nook on 22nd November. Other maxima included 52 at Chelker Reservoir on 17th August and 70 at Otley Gravel Pits on 1st January. Up to five were noted at Stockbridge and up to seven on Redcar Tarn. Breeding occurred at a number of sites including Otley Gravel Pits, Denton Hall Pond, Kildwick Ings and Stockbridge.