Single birds were noted at Soil Hill near Raggalds, Queensbury on 6th, 10th, and 11th, 15th, 24th & 25th November. A lone bird was reported from Rocky Valley, Ilkley Moor on 23rd November the same day as one at Fly Flatts Reservoir which held a group of four birds on 30th November.

The first was a bird at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 1st October. November produced more records, with one on Soil Hill on 8th and 9th and another there on 13th. On the same date eight passed Thornton Moor (DCB), and a week later, four were at Leeshaw Reservoir (RHP). Finally, another single was on Soil Hill on 7th December.

In what was a fairly typical year for the species, a bird was seen at Soil Hill on 13th January. The other records all involved migrants observed at Thornton Moor Reservoir, and comprising four birds on 25th September, five on 10th October and one on 13th.

Three records is about average, but slightly down on some recent years.

What birds were seen didn’t stay around, as typified by the only first winter period record of eight flying east at Soil Hill on 14th January (KM). Two birds were at Whetstone Gate on 25th March, and one was nearby on Ilkley Moor on 22nd November.

This is another species for which Soil Hill seems to have an attraction, and most of the year’s 11 records, probably involving 12 birds, came from there. A single was present on 2nd and 3rd February, and, in the second winter period a party of seven were found on 11th November. Two remained until the 14th, and the final single was seen four days later.

The other reports came from Thornton Moor Reservoir, a regular spot for migrating birds, and involved two on 24th February, and singles on 3rd and 17th November.