The River Wharfe is good for this species with birds regularly being seen at Otley Gravel Pits, Barden Bridge, Askwith and Beamsley and breeding occurring at Ben Rhydding.

The River Aire also has a sustainable population with breeding noted at Stockbridge and other birds being seen at Esholt, Myrtle Park, Silsden, Marley, Shipley Glen, Farnhill Ings and Hirst Wood.

Breeding was also noted at Elland Gravel Pits.

The Washburn is not the most reliable river for kingfishers but birds were seen near Dob Bridge and at Beaverdyke and Swinsty Reservoirs.

Other sites holding this species included Leeming Reservoir and also a bird in Denton village.

There were 46 records this year from the River Aire and its tributaries. However, about half of these came from Stockbridge. Other locations included St Ives, Marley, Hirst Wood, Shipley Glen, Doe Park Reservoir and Baildon.

A total of 22 records originated from the Wharfe Valley, with breeding proven at one site, where eight young were fledged from two broods. Most of the records concerned the stretch of river from Ilkley to Gallows Hill, Otley, but birds were noted as high up the dale as Barden Bridge.

There was a pleasing set of reports from the Washburn Valley, with birds seen at Dob Park Bridge as well as the reservoirs of Fewston, Swinsty, Lindley Wood and Beaverdyke. Elsewhere, five records came from Elland Gravel Pits.

Seventy records were submitted, very much in line with 2004, although this year there were more from Wharfedale than Airedale, the proportions being 56% and 40%. Of the balance, the main sightings came from Elland Gravel Pits and Ogden Water. There were no records at all from the Washburn Valley, in contrast to last year, when birds were reported from five locations. One feature was the number of birds seen in urban and suburban areas, such as Bingley, Shipley and Keighley.

Reports of successful breeding were up on 2004. Four young were seen near Otley Wetland Reserve, and four were ringed at Maple Grange. Birds were also observed attending nest holes at Marley and Elland Gravel Pits, and sightings of adults carrying food near Doe Park Reservoir resulted in the discovery of a nest with young.

An interesting record came from Burley-in-Wharfedale, where, having flown into a house window, a bird was taken into care, following which it revived and flew off the following day.

The 100 records submitted represents a marked increase over other recent years, though it seems unlikely to indicate an increase in the local population, given that many of the reports came from the small area between Saltaire and Bingley.

In fact the Aire Valley contributed around 70% of all the sightings with birds being seen as far up as Skipton Sewage Works and Cononley Ings, both locations recently included in the Group’s revised recording area. The Wharfedale records came largely from the expected areas around Bolton Abbey, Otley and Ikley, and, after a blank year in 2005, it was good to note reports from three sites in the Washburn Valley.

Last year’s Report mentioned the number of birds seen in urban and suburban areas, and this trend continued, with many sightings from Bingley, Shipley, Keighley and Otley. The most remarkable such sighting, however, has got to be the five birds reported from a garden pond at Frizinghall (Bradford) on 10th September. This probably represented a family party, and points to successful breeding in the general area. Proven breeding was established at Ben Rhydding, Denton (with two broods being raised at both these sites), Pool Paper Mills, and near Stockbridge.

The last location produced, on 25th September, the unusual sight of two Kingfishers joining in the enthusiastic communal mobbing of a bemused Sparrowhawk, which had foolishly chosen to perch in willows on the reserve.

This species’ stability is confirmed by the similarity of the data to last year’s: 96 records from 29 sites, two-thirds of which were in Airedale, and a similar amount of breeding success.

Birds were seen on many occasions between Shipley and Keighley, generally singles, but with two birds seen together a number of times, most notably when a pair flew through a Riddlesden garden in November. Most of the Wharfedale reports were from the Bolton Abbey/Strid Wood area, with a few from around Otley and Ilkley, and birds continue to maintain a presence in the Washburn Valley, with two records.

A pair seen copulating at Barden Bridge suggested imminent breeding there, but it was proved only at Marley, Stockbridge, and three locations in the Otley area: Pool Paper Mills, Otley Wetland and Mickling Beck. Apart from two juveniles at Stockbridge, no other numbers were provided.

Continues to be well-distributed across the area, including four records from suburban Bradford, but still very little from the Washburn Valley. Breeding certainly took place at Barden Bridge, and probably near Farnhill.