Last year the increasing numbers of Greylag amounted to a record total of 268, this year that was more than doubled when an amazing 545 were counted on Lindley Wood Reservoir on 27th September (SJ, MD).

There were only two three-figure counts during the first half of the year. 180 were seen on Reva Reservoir late in January and 100 were at Denton in February. Midsummer saw a flock of 118 growing to 153 at Thruscross Reservoir. In the autumn numbers fluctuated greatly at Lindley Wood and Fewston Reservoirs but only achieved over 100 birds eight times.

Breeding success was recorded at Thruscross Reservoir, Reva Reservoir, Kex Gill, Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits, Lower Barden Reservoir, Weecher Reservoir, and Denton Hall Lake. Two were seen with an orange neck ring at Fewston Reservoir on 21st September, which indicated they were from a neck-ringing scheme at York

The largest flocks were seen on Lindley Wood Reservoir once again, with the maximum being 480 on 13th September, this figure being over 60 less than last year’s record high count. Other triple-figure counts came from Reva, Thruscross and Fewston Reservoirs.

Breeding success was reported at Kex Gill, Denton Moor, Hawksworth Moor, Dowley Gap, and the reservoirs at Carr Bottom, Lindley Wood, Thruscross and Weecher.

The last few years have seen flocks of record sizes, and many three-figure totals. This year there were only two counts of this size : 300 birds at Norwood Bottom on 11th January, and 170 at Chelker Reservoir five days later. None of this necessarily points to a change in the birds’ status in this area, as, like all the resident geese, they are known to wander.

During the rest of the year, there were only a few dates when flocks approaching 100 birds were seen, and the relevant monthly maxima were 70 at Reva Reservoir in February, 80 at Knotford Nook in March, 95 at Lindley Wood Reservoir in August, with a count of 90 there in December, and over Denton Moor in November.A more significant pointer to the species’ status is the extent of breeding success, and, happily, this was well-recorded. Details in respect of the main sites are:Cold Edge Dams A total of five young were seen at the end of May.
Kex Gill Quarry At least three pairs had a minimum of eleven downy young
Barden Moor Seven pairs raised 15 young
Otley Wetland A pair hatched seven young, one of which was predated, but the remainder appeared to fledge.
Rombald’s Moor At least three young reared
Weecher Reservoir Ten juveniles were seen on 26th June, which had clearly been raised in the immediate vicinity
River Wharfe Thirteen goslings seen
Bingley (River Aire) Six young seenIn addition, there were at least two breeding pairs along the canal between Bingley and Saltaire, two pairs were on Bingley Moor, and a bird was discovered incubating eggs at Leeshaw.

As in some previous years, a bird with an orange neck-collar was seen, indicating its origins in the York area.

It is clear from the records received that the status of this species in the area is largely unchanged, both in terms of numbers and breeding, and, with a few exceptions, most records continue to come from north of the Aire Valley.

In the first six months there were three counts running into three figures, and all were made in January. At Lindley Wood Reservoir, 197 birds arrived on the 2nd, and just over two weeks later 103 birds were seen near Pool. Finally, an impressive flock of about 300 headed south-west over Skipton Sewage Works on the 22nd. In February the best totals were 70 birds at Leeshaw and 72 in fields near Timble Ings, and most other double-figure counts were down on these. The next sizeable flock wasn’t seen until 8th July when 120 birds were on Thruscross Reservoir, and this turned out to be the year’s final three-figure gathering. Between then and the year-end there were many double-figure sightings, but of these only counts of 75 at John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir on 13th October, and 94 at Leeshaw Reservoir on the 29th stood out. It perhaps puts into perspective Greylag Goose’s present status in the area, that the observer remarked such a number at this location a few years ago would have been a major event.Breeding was recorded at or near ten locations, several of them the same as last year, and, where numbers are known, with the same apparent degree of success. The sites for which specific details were provided are:Kex Gill Quarry Three pairs and ten young
Otley Wetland Two pairs and six young
Warley Moor Reservoir Two pairs and seven young
Dowley Gap Six young
Weecher Reservoir 11 young

In addition, unspecified numbers of young were seen at Langbar, Lower Barden Reservoir, Lindley Wood Reservoir and Dunkirk Pond, but at the last two, many juveniles were said to be present. A few pairs also bred on the Burley/Hawksworth Moor complex.

Aggregate numbers were well down on most recent years, with few records of three-figure flocks, but details of breeding successes indicate that the species’ status as a resident is relatively stable.

The first six months accounted for 75% of the year’s records, with a fairly wide spread of locations, but with most of the regular sizeable counts coming from the Worth Valley during the winter period. The highest counts during this period were, however, made elsewhere: 130 near Beecroft Moor Plantation in February, and 100 around Weecher Reservoir in March. In the second half of the year, the biggest flocks were 98 birds at Leeshaw in October, and 80 at Thruscross Reservoir in December, which location had hosted the same total 11 months earlier.

Specific details on breeding successes indicated that a minimum of 100 birds had been raised, with the highest numbers coming from Otley Wetland, Kex Gill Quarry, Fewston and Weecher Reservoir. Sites producing smaller tallies were Morton, Leeshaw, Lindley Wood and Lower Barden Reservoirs, and the Valley of Desolation, and there were unspecified reports from the Bingley area and Knotford Nook.