2003 Report

2004 Report

2005 Report

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus
Uncommon but regular winter visitor.

The loss of two regular sites for this species, following the reorganisation of the Group recording area, has been offset by the inclusion of two others, which produced records this year. In all, 45 reports came from six locations, including Stockbridge Nature Reserve, undoubtedly the stronghold in the area.

As usual, most of the records originated in the winter months, and up to four birds (and possibly five) were seen or heard at Stockbridge on many dates between September and December. Intriguingly, however, a juvenile bird was back on the very early date of 13th August, with three birds present in the following week, which might suggest relatively local breeding. The second winter period also had two records of a single bird at Otley Wetland, including a colour-ringed individual on 22nd November, a bird at Cononley Ings on 24th November, and another on the same date near Skipton Sewage Works.

The comparitively few records for the first three months of the year all comprised individuals at the locations already mentioned, and on single dates at Marley Sewage Works and Silsden Ings. It is clear that there has been a drop in the numbers of birds seen at Otley Wetland, and, coupled with the loss of habitat at Esholt Sewage Works, and the mid-year removal of access to Marley Sewage Works, it is inevitable the Group will be heavily dependent on Stockbridge for records in the future.

MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus
Resident breeder.

This is a species which seems to be increasingly well-recorded. In 2006, reports came from 32 widespread locations, though with relatively few records from south of the Aire, and breeding records were well up on those of most years.

Numbers seen were in keeping with the increased reporting, and between five and nine birds were seen on 15 occasions, and, by recent standards, very good counts of up to 12 birds at Otley Wetland and Manningham Park Lake, up to 13 at Tong Park Reservoir, and the year’s best count of 19 birds at Yeadon Tarn in late November. Interesting observations included a bird on the same Low Moor garden pond which proved attractive to Mallard, one at the summit of the minor road just below Beamsley Beacon, and another which failed to see off a Green Sandpiper at Stockbridge.

Such is the apparent interest shown in the submission of breeding data that it is worth setting out all the 17 locations involved: Crossflatts, Saltaire, Gallows Hill, Cottingley Manor, Shipley Glen, Stockbridge, Burley, Weecher Reservoir, Barden, Timble Ings, St. Ives, Farnhill, Tong Park Reservoir, Bolton Abbey, Menston, Otley Wetland and Nell Bank. At the first of these, the birds chose an old car tyre as a nest-site, and the Saltaire pair were particularly determined, as their eventually successful raising of a single chick was their third attempt, following two earlier nests being flooded out. In all, at least 38 young were raised.

COMMON COOT Fulica atra
Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor.

A particularly well-reported species, recorded in every month and from 18 widespread locations. The numbers involved, whilst not reaching the aggregate totals of the late 1980’s, showed a distinct improvement on those of ten years ago, and had a better balanced distribution across the recording area.

That said, two locations, Knotford Nook and Otley Wetland, continue to dominate, particularly during the winter months, but this year the first winter period was, for the first time in several years, almost as productive as the second one. These sites had the only three-figure counts, and the relevant monthly maxima were:

Both these locations also had good double-figure counts in several other months, but, elsewhere, only Redcar Tarn managed to raise more than 20 birds, when 31 were noted on 26th January.

In general, the summer months produced only reports of birds at breeding sites, namely Marley Sewage Works, Otley Wetland, St. Ives, Stockbridge, Knotford Nook and Redcar Tarn, and success was established by the presence of juveniles at all but the last location.

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