Following on from 2002, six birds remained on Kildwick Moor until late February with five still present on 5th March. At Sandwith Moor six birds were located on 13th January and remained until 15th February with three still present into early April. Wing-clapping was noted but no breeding attempted there.

Various moorlands had sightings and some such as Round Hill, Whetstone Gate and Beamsley Moor often had displaying birds but the only concrete proof of breeding came from Barden Moor, Ilkley Moor, Kex Gill Moor, Fly Flatts and two pairs on Bingley Moor.
Most birds had moved on by early autumn but three were noted near Fly Flatts Reservoir on 24th October.

The first of the year was at Barden on 4th March. Most birds had vacated the area by early autumn, but October sightings came from Cold Edge Dams, Thornton Moor Reservoir and near Thruscross. As this species is scarce in the area during winter, it was pleasing to see up to four birds in Wharfedale in December.

It was disappointing that from the records there was no proof of breeding from any of the northern moorlands, although birds were present in the usual areas and breeding was strongly suspected. In the south of the area, birds were seen carrying food on the moorland above Oxenhope, suggesting breeding there, and a displaying bird was seen on Warley Moor.

It is pleasing to note that there were more winter records than of late, with birds being seen at both ends of the year. These came mainly from Barden Scale, where in January and February there were nine records of up to two birds, and three reports in November and December. Again, up to two birds were seen, and one was also seen on Middleton Moor.

There were widespread reports of birds between March and October, with most in the summer months. These came from nineteen locations, including two from which birds are not regularly reported, the Sconce Lane area of Baildon, and Esholt Sewage Works. Sightings in this period also involved two birds on several occasions, and three were seen from Barden Scale in early August.

Probable breeding was suggested by displaying birds at Cold Edge Dams, and birds seen carrying food in the Barden area. It certainly took place on Askwith Moor, where three young birds were ringed, and near Warley Moor Reservoir, where an adult was observed feeding two juveniles.

This diurnal owl is usually well recorded, and this year birds were reported from 23 locations, two-thirds of which were in the south of the area, but including nine sites within a short distance of each other.

The blocks of moorland in an arc south of Oxenhope predominated, and it was from here that the year’s highest total of six birds originated, consisting of different pairs on Warley Moor, Oxenhope Moor, and near Paul Clough. Records from Airedale were generally concentrated on Rombald’s Moor and its satellites, and from the Washburn Valley there were sightings at Timble Ings and Hoodstorth, and nearby at Kex Gill and Denton Moor. Elsewhere, there were several reports from Baildon Moor and Barden Scale, and single sightings at Draughton Heights and Keighley Moor. Given the proximity of many of the locations, a lot of the records almost certainly involve the same birds, but even with this caveat, it is probable a minimum of 25 birds was seen during the course of the year.

For the second year in succession, there was some indication of birds spending at least part of the winter in the area, as evidenced by sightings of up to two birds around Barden and Baildon Moor in the first two months, and singles in these areas and Blubberhouses Moor in the final two.

The numbers of pairs seen during the summer months was suggestive of a good breeding season, but definite proof came only from Kex Gill, Denton Moor and Warley Moor.

Given the success of the preceding species, it is surprising that this one had a particularly poor year. Only 24 records were received from ten locations, and it is probable no more than 13 birds were seen in total. What records there were came mainly from Baildon Moor, Barden Scale, Kex Gill, Timble Ings and the moors south-east of Oxenhope, which produced the year’s highest count of four birds, at Warley Moor on 20th May. Single birds seen on Soil Hill in August and November were at a much less usual site.

The total absence of breeding information mirrors the general lack of birds.