The reported decline in wintering Goosander last year continued in 2003, though this may be artificial as there appears to be fewer counts of roosts taking place.

The monthly maxima at the two traditional roost sites was as follows:

Elland Gravel Pits also didn’t meet the heady heights of last year with 25 being the highest total recorded compared with 83. Twelve on 4th March at Yeadon Tarn and ten on 14th September at Cold Edge Dams were the only other sites to record double figures. Over ten were seen from Doe Park and Denholme Clough on a number of occasions but these are birds leaving the Thornton Moor Reservoir roost.

Breeding was successful at the following sites; Askwith, Burley, Marley, and Pool

There was under-recording of this species at the regular roost sites, so a table of monthly maxima would be irrelevant. Virtually all the high counts came from one roost site, Thornton Moor Reservoir, with the highest being 43 on 1st October. Lindley Wood Reservoir only managed a maximum of 23, while the highest count at Elland Gravel Pits was 22. Double figures were also recorded at all breeding locations, as well as Otley Wetland and Doe Park Reservoir.

Females with young were seen at Barden, Myrtle Park, Weston, Dowley Gap, Bolton Abbey, and Marley Sewage Works.

Whilst this species continues to be well-recorded, with 165 reports received for 2005, the actual numbers of birds seem to be down on what they were several years ago. In particular, winter roost counts are relatively modest in comparison with those fairly commonly reported ten years ago.

Records of double-figure counts came from ten locations, although the highest ones were limited to the roosts at three of them. Lindley Wood Reservoir had the year’s highest count of 89 on 4th February, up to 70 birds were at Elland Gravel Pits on three dates in early December, and Thornton Moor Reservoir had a maximum count of 45 on 27th February. At other sites, not usually featuring under this heading, there were nineteen birds on the River Calder, Brighouse, in February, and 24 at both Lister Park, Manningham in March, and Graincliffe Reservoir in December.

What little breeding information there was came from the Wharfe and the Aire. On the former, six young were raised near Askwith, and different groups of two and eleven were seen at Bolton Abbey, and six at Burley. Eleven small young near Marley in May had probably been reduced to the eight well-grown ones present there a month later.

The popularity of this striking duck is evident from the 250 records received, the highest ever total. This might, however, give a slightly misleading impression, as many of the reports are centred on the River Wharfe around Bolton Abbey, and the numbers of birds roosting in autumn and winter on the region’s wetland areas are considerably down on those of ten years ago. Moreover, reported breeding has not increased at the rate that might have been expected, being only six pairs up on the recorded total in the Group’s initial Report in 1987.

Excluding family parties, there were double-figure counts from only eight locations, and at one of these there is the possibility of the birds being ones dispersing from a nearby roost. Thornton Moor Reservoir now comprises the Group’s only significant roost-site, and even here numbers are far from consistent, as the table of monthly maxima shows: Jan 31, Feb 34, April 21, August 10, September 62

September was easily the best month at Thornton Moor, with five counts of between 11 and 62 birds, and during this same period nearby Denholme Clough had up to 41 birds overflying on five occasions. Manningham Park again produced a good count, with 25 in early January, and Lindley Wood Reservoir’s maximum was 15 birds, the same as Coppice Pond (St. Ives), and one more than the highest count at Silsden Reservoir. Yeadon Tarn, with 12 in November, and the River Aire above Baildon, (ten in December) were the only other sites to feature. A further 29 locations had single-figure counts.

Wharfedale was formerly the Group’s breeding stronghold, but seems now to have to have been overtaken by Airedale. The latter area had breeding successes from Apperley Bridge, Kildwick, Cononley, Marley and Dowley Gap, whereas Wharfedale had two less, at Strid Wood, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Denton. Eight young were also raised in a nest-box at Swinsty.

Another year with plenty of reports, being slightly up on last year’s record 250. There is also more evidence of breeding success, but significant gatherings of adult birds were hard to come by, confirming the previously expressed view that the area no longer holds significant roosts of the species. There was generally a good spread of records, with many away from the Group’s original strongholds in Wharfedale, and it is nice to see mention of a few new or irregular localities such as Chellow Dean and East Riddlesden Hall.

Birds seen at Yeadon Tarn on 9th November appeared to comprise a roost of 29, and Thornton Moor Reservoir, the only remaining regular roost-site, generally held about 20 birds, but with an exceptional 73 on 6th October. Up to 23 birds seen overflying Denholme Clough around this time no doubt originated from Thornton Moor. Elsewhere, 20 birds at Chellow Dean on 11th January comprised a good site record.

Breeding was particularly well-reported this year. Of the 13 locations, 10 were in Wharfedale, including Otley, around Ilkley, and the river between Bolton Abbey and Barden, and three in Airedale, between Bingley and Marley, and including birds raised in a nest-box at the latter. From the records received, it is probable 18 pairs raised about 130 young, which represents the best breeding season in the Group area.

This species continues to thrive as a breeder, with obvious colonisation of the Aire Valley. However, winter roosts are still unexceptional, with 60 birds at Thornton Moor Reservoir in September comfortably the best.