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This species’ spread within the recording area continues, and there were numerous sightings throughout the year, including some from several locations in the southern sector where birds are not usually seen.

The earliest bird was noted on 28th January, a fairly typical date. However, there were more sightings than usual in the second winter period, including one on 26th December at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits, indicating that movement of birds might now be starting even earlier.

The usual build up of birds at Otley Wetland during February and March produced a maximum count of 40 there at the end of that period, but this figure was repeated on 15th April, and there were several other counts in the twenties during the two subsequent months.

The only specific breeding record came from Otley Wetland, where two pairs were seen with young, but breeding almost certainly also occurred on the Wharfe, and at Barden, March Ghyll Reservoir and Baildon. Birds seen mobbing a Red Kite at Barden on 25th June were fairly clearly from breeding pairs nearby.

On 17th May a leucistic bird was noted at Embsay Pond.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charidrius dubius
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

More records were received than in 2004, and there was evidence of breeding at two locations, with four young ringed from two nests at one, and an unknown outcome at the other. At a third site, an adult, present for some time, was eventually seen with a juvenile.

Birds seen were, however, mainly on passage, and the first spring record, of two birds at Sandbeds Flash on 21st March, was on a fairly typical date. During the two following months, birds were also noted at Lindley Wood Reservoir, Otley Wetland and Marley, as well as the three probable breeding sites.

In June, July and August, observations consisted of the odd summering bird and those on autumn migration, with up to two at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir in July, and single birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir in the early part of the following month. The last sighting here was on 11th August.

GREAT RINGED PLOVER Charidrius hiaticula
Migrant breeder/passage visitor.

Unusually, all this year’s records came from the south of the recording area, and, with two exceptions, all the birds seen were at Thornton Moor Reservoir. The first were four at this location on the unusually late date of 24th April, following which up to three birds were noted on five dates to 5th June. Autumn passage produced birds on 16 dates between 31st July and 25th September, with notable counts of nine on the latter date and the 10th of the month, and five on 25th August.

Away from here, three birds were seen at Cold Edge Dams on 30th April, and one flew over Denholme Clough on 20th August.

For the second successive year there was no evidence of breeding.

EURASIAN DOTTEREL Charidrius morinellus
Scarce passage migrant.

Recorded for the second successive year, though not at the traditional stopover point of Rombald’s Moor.

Two males were found on 9th May at High Brown Knoll on Midgley Moor, just inside the Group recording area (HBC).

GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria
Resident breeder/passage and winter visitor.

The first four months of the year were considerably better than the comparable period in 2004. Ten locations had three-figure counts, of which four had flocks of 250 birds or more. Most of these were in March, and comprised 258 at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 20th, 500 at Thruscross and 250 near Barden on 25th (increasing to 400 on 17th April), and at least 3000 on Sandwith Moor on 29th (AJ). This is a welcome return to form for this area, and the total is a record one, though, intriguingly, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that as many as 8000 birds might have been present around that time! (per AJ).

By the end of April, some local birds were back on territory, though this seemed to take place later than in some previous years, whilst northern birds, by now in full breeding dress, were still returning to theirs. Some of these were seen at Trough Lane in May, and another had been seen earlier at Soil Hill. Breeding was proved only on Burley Moor, where a nest with four eggs was found, and Ovenden Moor, where a pair was seen with young.

Birds were on the move by July, and up to 132 birds were seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir, though it is difficult to assess the extent of the autumn passage, as some birds tend to remain in the area. The second winter period was fairly quiet, and the only three-figure flocks were 100 on Sandwith Moor on 29th October, and 450 at Chelker Reservoir on 13th November.

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola
Fairly regular but scarce passage migrant

There were four records after a blank year, all single birds on autumn migration.

They were seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 21st August, and 28th and 30th September (DCB), and Denholme Clough on 2nd October (MD, SJ).

NORTHERN LAPWING Vanellus vanellus
Resident breeder/passage and winter visitor.

Birds were seen in every month, but, as expected, the highest numbers were in the winter months and on passage.

The biggest daily total was right at the beginning of the year when 2420 were recorded on 1st January, consisting of 450 at Chelker Reservoir, 150 near Timble Ings, and 1820 at Thornton Moor Reservoir. Other large flocks in the first winter period comprised up to 480 at Thornton Moor in January, and 225 in March, 450 seen over Oxenhope in February, and 700 in the same month at Denton.

Birds started to disperse and were seen on breeding territory from March, with many records of these. Specific records of breeding came from Leeshaw, Soil Hill, Glovershaw, Otley Wetland, Burley Moor, Fewston and New Laithe Moor. A significant 20 pairs bred at Denton and five young were ringed, as were birds on Hawksworth Moor and Reva Hill.

By early July post-breeding dispersal was in evidence, and several three-figure flocks were seen, the biggest of which was 280 at Leeshaw Reservoir. Subsequently, the monthly maxima were at least 300 at Chelker Reservoir in September, and 500 there in October, 700 at Denton Park in November, and, again at Chelker, 400 in December.

RED KNOT Calidris canutus
Scarce and irregular passage migrant

After a blank year in 2004, three birds flew north-west at Roils Head on 26th August (HBC). This, like most of the recent records, came from the south of the area.

CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferruginea
Scarce and irregular passage migrant

A timely drop in the water levels at Thornton Moor Reservoir produced a good crop of waders on autumn passage, including this species, not recorded since 1999.

On 1st September, four birds arrived with Dunlin and departed shortly afterwards (BV), and another two, both juveniles, were seen the following day (MD).

DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Fairly common passage migrant/scarce and sporadic breeder.

A good year for the species, with particularly high numbers during a productive period for wader passage around the end of August. All but one of the many records came from the south of the Group area, and, of these, the majority originated from Thornton Moor Reservoir, which is, without doubt, the top location in the area for wader passage.

The first of the Thornton Moor records was a bird on 26th March, and between that date and 26th June, birds were recorded there on nine dates, with significant counts of six on 30th April and five on 2nd May. A single bird had returned by 26th July, and five were present five days later. However, the best totals were reserved for the end of August and beginning of September, as five birds were seen on 25th August, and fourteen flew past on 31st, with eight on the shoreline the following day. The year’s final record was of two birds on 11th September, following three in the preceding week.

Away from this location, up to two birds were seen at Cold Edge Dams on six dates between 3rd April and 6th August, two were at Otley Wetland on 6th May, one at Warley Moor Reservoir on 25th June, and, notably, two at Soil Hill on 14th May, a site where it is unlikely they have been seen previously.

Though there was no definite evidence of breeding, display calling was heard from some of the birds at Thornton Moor during the summer months, and a pair was present as Warley Moor Reservoir during this period.

RUFF Philomachus pugnax
Scarce passage visitor.

Recorded for the second successive year, and with two reports.

Two birds were seen flying east at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 15th September (MD), and another two were observed at Northowram on 29th December (HBC).

JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus
Uncommon but annual passage/winter visitor.

Records of this species continue to increase, probably due largely to the regular working of two apparent migration and wintering sites. These are Soil Hill, near Queensbury, and Otley Wetland.

At Soil Hill, where the birds are mainly on passage, verified records of individuals came on 5th January, 10th April, 16th, 20th, 24th, 26th and 29th October and 10th November (KM). Otley Wetland had two birds on 3rd, 5th and 25th February, and three on 12th. In the second winter period, two were seen there on 16th December (MD, SJ, KM).

In October, individuals were also flushed at Esholt Sewage Works on 2nd, and on Burley Moor on 22nd (RS). The first of these accorded the observer the rare privilege of showing itself on the ground. Elland Gravel Pits, a traditional site for the species, had two birds on 30th December.

COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
Resident breeder; passage/winter visitor.

As last year’s Report pointed out, high counts of this species are becoming a thing of the past, and nearly all the records for double figures came on visible-migration watches. Numbers of birds were generally low in both winter periods, with highs of ten birds at Otley Wetland in February, and 11 there in December. The only other appreciable count outside the autumn migration season was of twelve displaying birds at Whetstone Gate on 10th June. There were, however, good numbers of reports of smaller numbers from across the area.

Display was also noted at Barden Scale in March, May and June, (and birds were still about early in July), and displaying and calling were much in evidence in the Cold Edge and Warley Moor areas in the same period. The only other drumming birds were three at Reva Hill in June. Notwithstanding the extent of this activity, there were no breeding reports, and this, and even displaying at other locations, was probably under-recorded.

As will be appreciated from other sections of the Report, visible-migration nowadays produces a considerable percentage of the Group’s records. Observations related to the three months from the end of July, with most records coming from Thornton Moor Reservoir and Cold Edge Dams, and a few from Denholme Clough and Soil Hill. Around 300 birds were seen in all, and there were notable day totals of between 12 and 28 birds on five dates at Thornton Moor, and between 11 and 25 on four occasions at Cold Edge Dams.

WOODCOCK Scolopus rusticola
Resident breeder, passage/winter visitor.

In the summer months, this species is seen almost exclusively in and around woodland, but migratory and wintering birds can be seen almost anywhere.

Between April and June, birds were recorded at Strid Wood, Timble Ings and St. Ives, but roding flight was noted only at the two latter sites, where there was a maximum of four birds at both. Previous Reports have commented on the lack of roding records, given the abundance of suitable breeding habitat, but it may be this is simply down to insufficient coverage.

All other records were of birds wintering or on passage at both ends of the year, and came from Otley Wetland, Fewston, Ovenden Moor, Crossflatts, Soil Hill, Round Hill and Blubberhouses Moor. Single birds were involved except at the latter site, where three birds were flushed together.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
Regular, but scarce passage migrant.

The only record was of eight birds flying west at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 30th August (KM, BV).

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
Regular, but scarce passage visitor.

As with the previous species, there was just one record: a bird moving south-west over Denholme Clough on 17th September (SJ).

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus
Regular, but uncommon passage migrant.

Another reasonable year, producing twelve records, mainly from the south of the area, and about twenty birds.

Spring passage was noted on three dates. On 20th April, two birds flew over Otley Wetland (SJG), and a single seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir (DCB) could have been the one passing Cold Edge Dams (BS). Two weeks later, another bird was seen at Otley Wetland, on 6th May (SJ), and three overflew Timble Ings on the 8th (AJ).

Thornton Moor Reservoir had all the records of birds on their return movement. In July, singles were seen on 20th (BV), 23rd and 31st (DCB). Another was there on 4th August (BV), and one flew south-west with Curlews on the 19th (KM). Two days later, four were seen (DCB), and on the 22nd one was heard in flight, followed by three more which spent a short time on the shoreline (KM).

EURASIAN CURLEW Numenius arquata
Common resident breeder and passage/winter visitor.

Counts of flocks and roosting birds were down in both winter periods, with maxima of 250 at Denton Park on 22nd January, and 200 in the Otley area on 22nd December.

Spring passage was evident from early March, with many birds back on breeding territory by the last week of the month. By July, post-breeding dispersal had started, as evidenced by a roost of 100 birds at Kex Gill Quarry on the 7th. There were, however, no other flocks approaching this size during the autumn passage period.

Breeding success was under-recorded. At least six pairs were present on Bingley Moor, and the behaviour of birds at Round Hill and Warley Moor Reservoir suggested breeding activity. However, it was proved only at Baildon and Leeshaw, where adults were seen with young, and Middleton Moor, where a nest was found containing four eggs.

COMMON REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Migrant breeder/passage and occasional winter visitor.

The pattern of sightings in the early part of the year was almost identical to 2004. The first arrival was at Sandbeds Flash on 23rd February, with two records in the first week in March, followed by a rush of arrivals from mid-March and throughout April. The maximum gathering in this period was ten birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 1st April, which turned out to be the only double-figure count of the year.

Over 80% of the records came from the first five months, and return passage was light, consisting of no more than three birds on any day, until the last sighting on the early date of 15th August.

Pairs were seen at a number of sites, and breeding was proved to have taken place at Hawksworth Moor, where there were two pairs, Beamsley Moor, where two pairs had young and Ovenden Moor, which had a pair with chicks. Juvenile birds were also seen on Bingley Moor, but a nest at Otley Wetland was predated.

COMMON GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
Regular passage migrant.

This was a rather poor year. There were no spring records, only 14 records in all, and it is probable no more than eight different birds were seen.

What records there were came almost entirely from Thornton Moor Reservoir. A single was seen on 31st July, and another on 8th August, with sightings of what was almost certainly the same bird until the 13th. After a short gap, another was there on 21st August, with the year’s final record a single on 29th September.

The remaining records consisted of individuals at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir on 12th July, at Cold Edge Dams on 20th, at Warley Moor Reservoir on 8th August, and at Doe Park Reservoir on 8th September.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
Regular passage migrant and occasional winter visitor.

The run of poor years continues, and it is clear this species is becoming considerably scarcer in the recording area. With seven reports, the total is just two more than in 2004.

A bird found at Sandbeds Flash on 22nd March could have been an early spring migrant, or a relocating wintering bird. In any event, it remained at the site until 4th April (KM et al). The previous day one was at Thornton Moor Reservoir (DCB). After a gap of nearly three months, a bird was seen at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 29th June (KM), and autumn sightings were completed by singles at Cold Edge Dams on 7th August (BS), Thornton Moor on 11th (DCB) and Elland Gravel Pits on 17th and 18th (HBC). Winter records are now increasingly rare, so a bird flying past Stockbridge Nature Reserve on 9th December was particularly welcome (SR).

COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
Migrant breeder/passage migrant.

The first arrival was on the relatively early date of 5th April. There was then a good movement of birds during the month and in May, the highest daily total being eight birds at Thornton Moor on 30th April. In contrast, autumn passage was fairly light, with up to three birds seen on several dates in July and August, but mainly just ones and twos. The last record was a single at Cold Edge Dams on 18th September.

During the summer, birds were seen at about ten potential breeding sites, but success was identified only at Cold Edge Dams, Warley Moor Reservoir, Kex Gill Quarry and Otley Wetland, where two young were ringed. A nest at Leeshaw contained four eggs, but these were apparently predated by a Carrion Crow.

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Scarce, regular, passage migrant.

Birds were seen at Thornton Moor Reservoir in both passage periods. One was seen on 2nd May, and four on 10th September (DCB)