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

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 Flats 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.

Birds were seen only intermittently in the south of the area.

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.

The compiler of the Group’s first Report in 1987 had just one record of this species to document. Twenty years on and there are no fewer than 320 to analyse! Such is the wealth of information now provided and the potential number of birds involved that it is largely impossible and futile to say just how many individuals there are. It is hoped, therefore, that the figures which follow will provide a flavour of the exponential growth of the species in the area in the last 20 years. They are dealt with by general location.

Barden Scale Watchpoint
Continues to produce by far the most records and the highest numbers, due largely to the assiduous coverage by one observer in particular (AGG). Up to nine birds a day were seen there in every month, and double-figure counts were made on several days in all but four months of the year.

Birds were also seen at other Wharfedale locations away from this main area, including some where breeding pairs were present. Whilst it is simply not possible to say just how many there were, the pattern of sightings and locations suggests a minimum of 40 birds in the dale away from the main Barden Scale concentration.

Washburn Valley
Birds were seen throughout the year at a number of widespread locations. Whilst getting nowhere near the Barden figures, up to five birds were seen together on occasion, and it is possible around 35 different birds were seen in total during the course of the year.

Airedale
It is encouraging that a greater number of records have come from this area than previously, but it is too early to tell whether it represents a genuine expansion. It is probable 12 different birds were involved, and notable sightings included several in the general area north-west of Kildwick, mainly single birds, but four were seen on Bradley Moor in late March, and three at nearby Cononley Ings seven months later. Lower down the valley, a bird took up residence near Marley Hall Farm in midsummer.

Oxenhope
The moorland areas to the south and west produced six records of birds in the vicinity of Warley Moor during June, mainly singles, but three on the 11th and two on the 16th. A single bird over Oxenhope Moor at the beginning of the month could have been one of these. Individuals at Thornton Moor Reservoir on three dates in August, September and October are, however, more likely to have been relocating.

This proved to be the species’ most successful breeding year in the recording area. In Wharfedale ten pairs raised a total of 15 young, and in the Washburn Valley, four pairs produced eight young. To this should be added the discovery of four nests where subsequent breeding didn’t materialise, and several other locations where obvious pairs were seen, often in display flight.

Overall, the future for Buzzard in this area looks distinctly bright

Whilst the statistics vary a little from last year, it is evident from around 300 records submitted that Buzzard’s strong presence in the Group area is being maintained.

As usual, reports from the well-watched areas centred on Barden Scale predominated. Birds were seen on every day the site was covered, and it was not unusual to record upwards of two daily, with eight or nine birds often observed in a day, although not as regularly as in the previous year. The number of days involving double-figure counts was also slightly down, but there were still sightings of 10 birds on four occasions, 11 and 12 three times each, and 14 on 14th March. Lower down Wharfedale, sightings were not as numerous, but there were reports from 15 localities, and, based on the timing and pattern of sightings, it is possible around 25 different birds were seen, though the highest daily tally was three.

The Washburn Valley seemed to feature less well than last year, having records from only nine general areas, and the likely number of individual birds, at about 20, was well down on the comparable estimate for 2006. The best daily site count remained unchanged at five birds, however. Sightings from Airedale and the area west of Bradford were also less numerous, although it is, of course, encouraging to have any reports from these. In Airedale, individuals were reported from Gilstead, Marley and Hirst Wood, and there were four records from Warley Moor Reservoir (including three birds together in August), one from Queensbury, two from the Paul Clough/Leeming area, and one from the nearby sites of Leeshaw and Thornton Moor Reservoirs.

Breeding was well-documented, though this also is down, as the 11 definite pairs compares with 14 pairs and four other nests the previous year. In Wharfedale, six pairs were located, raising a maximum of 12 young, and the five pairs found in the Washburn produced at least this number of young. The presence of probable family parties and food-carrying at several other locations suggested breeding had taken place there as well.