Once again the only double figure counts for this species came from the Otley area at both Otley Gravel Pits and Knotford Nook. Both sites had their maximum figures during November with 28 at Knotford and 26 at the Gravel Pits. Tong Park Reservoir had nine throughout the last two months.

Breeding activity was noted at Stockbridge Nature Reserve by 15th March and by 22nd May four cygnets hatched. By early June two were missing but the other two survived. At Otley Gravel Pits three pairs bred producing 13 young. The pair at a private lake only managed to fledge one youngster. The Leeds/Liverpool canal hosted two nests between Bingley and Silsden, one with five young the other with seven. A pair attempted to breed at Raw Nook but failed.

In complete contrast to last year’s high count, this year’s was in the spring, with 26 being seen at Otley Wetland in April. Double-figure counts occurred at this site several times throughout the year, with Yeadon Tarn being the only other site to have more than 10, when 11 were seen at the end of the year.

Breeding took place at six locations, with 32 young being fledged. During August, two were seen with red neck-rings, which indicated they had been ringed at Ripon and Hay-a-Park Gravel Pits, both in 2001.

The number of records, numbers of birds, and the maximum count (28 birds at Otley Wetland on 6th May) are all in line with other recent years. Colour-ringed birds were seen at three locations, indicating some movement both within and from outside the recording area.

Evidence of breeding was first noted on 10th April, and took place at six locations at least. Three pairs bred at Otley Wetland, a pair at a private site, two pairs at Knotford Nook, and, on the canal, two pairs at Silsden and a pair at Micklethwaite and Crossflatts. Specific data on breeding success was not entirely forthcoming, but 13 young were ringed at Knotford Nook and Otley, 10 juveniles were seen at Silsden, four at Micklethwaite, and the same number at Crossflatts.

A particularly spectacular, if gory, incident was witnessed at Stockbridge Nature Reserve, when two swans were described as literally fighting to the death, with the weaker of the two surviving only by obtaining refuge under a willow close to the hide (SR).

The majority of the records, and all the double-figure counts, came from the Otley area, where there is clearly a stable, if locally mobile, population.

Numbers were almost exactly in line with other recent years, and the year’s highest count was 29 birds at Knotford Nook on 30th October, though correlation with other records from the same general area at the time suggests they were referable to birds seen at Otley Wetland on many occasions, and which had a maximum of 22 in the latter months of the year. Other records, mainly of twos and threes, came from various locations in Airedale, but with seven birds at Yeadon Tarn in March, and a scarce Worth Valley record of a bird at Leeshaw Reservoir in February.

As might be expected, most of the breeding information also emanated from around Otley, and it was considered probable three pairs had attempted to breed at the Wetland Nature Reserve, where at least 11 young were seen, and five cygnets were also reported from Knotford Nook. Elsewhere, four young were raised at Stockbridge, three at Farnhill, seven at Cononley, and four young birds were seen at a private lake.

The pattern of records suggests this species’ status is almost identical to other recent years.

Otley is clearly the local stronghold, and up to 24 birds were seen on many occasions throughout the year. Apart from this, Wharfedale produced few other reports, but there was a good scattering of records in Airedale, mainly of ones and twos. Less often-reported locations within the recording area included Addingham, Caldene Fields, Riddlesden, and Larkfield Tarn, where five birds were seen in February.

Breeding success at Otley Wetland was down on 2006, possibly due to disturbance, and only five young were raised. Elsewhere, small cygnets were seen at Stockbridge Nature Reserve, Shipley and Crossflatts (where there were two), but the best result came from a private site, from where a pair and seven young were reported.

Numbers clearly remain fairly static, especially around Otley, where 27 birds at Otley Wetland in September and November is about the norm for the area, and successful breeding took place here.