ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Scarce visitor1988
Singles at Thruscross Reservoir on 16th March and Otley Gravel Pits on 15th October.
1989
A calling bird was seen flying south over Swinsty Reservoir on 30th October.
1992
A single bird was found at Esholt on 14th November.
1993
The first on 12th September was discovered at Paul Clough by one of the teams in the Group’s Bird Race and was identified as it circled calling with a large party of Meadow Pipits. This was followed by a second well-described bird at Chelker Reservoir on 2nd October.
1994
There were two reports: at March Ghyll Reservoir on 24th September and Silsden Reservoir on 7th October.
1995
Once again just two records with the first at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 22nd October when a bird came up from in front of the hide and then flew across the reservoir.
1996
There were only two records; the first was of a single bird flying north at Timble on 20th April, whereas the second was of a bird observed feeding by the side of a footpath on Denton Moor on 19th October.
1999
The year’s only records were from Thornton Moor Reservoir each day between 13th and 16th October inclusive. On 13th, 15th and 16th October, single birds were either present at that site then seen to leave north-west, or were heard and seen flying to the north-west. On 14th October, a party of four birds flew to the north-west, using the north-est dam wall pitching as a leading-line.
2002
Two records this year of a species which is not annually recorded. Both concern singles: the first at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 3rd October, and the second at Fly Flatts Reservoir on 3rd November, during what was probably the best spell of local birding for several years.
2004
A single bird was seen at Chelker Reservoir on 26th September.
2007
After two blank years, there was a bird at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 21st March. A bird seen at Leeshaw on 12th November, may have been Water Pipit (A. spinoletta), or the Scandinavian race of Rock Pipit (A.p. littoralis).
2008
A bird was found at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 7th October.
2011
A bird was located at Leeming Reservoir on 29th April.