Two pairs bred in one area rearing three and one young respectively with a pair in another area rearing three young (PR).

The area surrounding the Barden watchpoint provided the lions share of records of birds reported every month of the year with a bird seen carrying food in June indicating that breeding is likely here also. Monthly maxima at this site included six in May, eight in April and 11 in August.

Sporadic records came from sites in the Washburn Valley such as Kex Gill Quarry, Timble Ings and Sword Point plantation and in the south of the area singles were seen at Leeshaw Reservoir in April, Elland Gravel Pits in May, Fly Flatts in June and Hollins Hill in December.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that this species was a rarity in the recording area – long may this trend continue.

This species now seems to be well-established as a breeder, and this was our most successful year to date.

In one part of Wharfedale, five pairs successfully fledged young (PR). No breeding data was received for another section of Wharfedale, but from behavioural observations it is likely that as many as six pairs attempted to nest there. The Washburn Valley had its first breeding success in living memory, with three chicks being fledged (AJ, PR). The young were ringed with the assistance of Yorkshire Water climbers . Display was noted at two further sites in the Washburn, and in April it was possible to see up to 16 birds in the air at one time, whilst in Wharfedale, a heavily-watched part of the recording area, it is not uncommon to receive records of double figures at any time of the year.

The 1995 Group Report described it as being an excellent year for the species. Such is the exponential growth since then, that the maximum number of birds now seen on a single day is getting on for the yearly total ten years ago.

This year, 330 records were submitted, with sightings throughout the year, although most came from the north-west sector, and, in particular, Barden Scale. This location had daily double figures in every month but July, October and December, and on 6th September no less than eighteen different birds were seen, a record for the Group (AGG).

As with many other birds of prey, particularly those prone to wandering, estimating total numbers is difficult. However, from the detailed records submitted, it is thought probable there were also at least thirty birds in the Washburn Valley, and eleven in Lower Wharfedale. There seem to be increasing numbers of records from the south of the recording area, which this year included several individuals seen on the land between Thornton Moor and Midgley Moor, and even urban outskirts : Shipley Glen, Elland Gravel Pits and Thornton.

Breeding successes mirrored the increase in the number of sightings, and were at least on a par with 2004. In Wharfedale, four pairs raised a total of six young, with the distinct probability that birds had bred elsewhere in the dale, based on observations of behaviour. Birds again bred in the Washburn Valley, where seven young were raised from three nests, and a nest was constructed at a further site, but abandoned. As with Wharfedale, the presence of other pairs, often including displaying birds, strongly suggested there were other breeding attempts or successes.