A reasonable year owing to a good run of records from the Barden Watchpoint. A first-year bird was noted on the 31st May and then four birds throughout June and early July with the last there, a single on 9th September (AGG et al).

Elsewhere singles were noted at Sword Point Plantation on 11th June (Pri), Hoodstorth on 15th June (TK), Haworth Moor on 22nd June and Otley Gravel Pits on 6th August (K+PL).

The first was the earliest ever recorded in the area, a single at Otley Wetland on 9th April (AJ), and another bird was seen here on 19th July (KM).

Elsewhere in Wharfedale, individuals were recorded on seven dates between 17th May and 28th June (AGG), and in this general area, a bird was seen to successfully rob a Sparrowhawk of a small prey item, which it ate on the wing.

The trend of recent years continues, with many records of birds in the summer months at a location in Wharfedale. Birds were seen on twelve dates between 21st June and 9th August, and often involved two birds (AGG et al). Whilst distances made the perception of individual features difficult, it is likely there was a turnover of different birds throughout this period.

Other records all involved singles. These came from Leeshaw Reservoir on 25th June (MD, SJ), Rombald’s Moor on 25th July (SJG) and Thruscross Reservoir on 1st August (JLT). Thornton Moor Reservoir had a bird on 4th September (MD, DCB), and 7th and 8th one was seen on nearby Ovenden Moor, chasing Meadow Pipits and Swallows.