There was a small but widespread arrival on 17th April, when four were at Otley Wetland, two at Thornton Moor, and one at Lindley Wood. After that, others were seen on an almost daily basis at many reservoirs and rivers.

Breeding was recorded at Cold Edge Dams, the reservoirs at Leeshaw, Swinsty and Thornton Moor, and on the River Wharfe at Barden and Bolton Abbey.

The last sighting of the year was at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits on 12th September.

The first arrival was on the relatively early date of 5th April. There was then a good movement of birds during the month and in May, the highest daily total being eight birds at Thornton Moor on 30th April. In contrast, autumn passage was fairly light, with up to three birds seen on several dates in July and August, but mainly just ones and twos. The last record was a single at Cold Edge Dams on 18th September.

During the summer, birds were seen at about ten potential breeding sites, but success was identified only at Cold Edge Dams, Warley Moor Reservoir, Kex Gill Quarry and Otley Wetland, where two young were ringed. A nest at Leeshaw contained four eggs, but these were apparently predated by a Carrion Crow.

The first arrival was on the fairly typical date of 11th April at Cononley. Between then and the final sighting of a bird at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 10th September, records came from 23 widespread locations.

Birds were seen on many dates in April and May as they arrived at potential breeding sites or passed through the area, but generally only ones and twos were involved, and five birds at Warley Moor Reservoir on 29th May and six at Thornton Moor Reservoir on 9th June were exceptional. Numbers were generally higher when return passage got underway, but once more six was the highest site count, again at Thornton Moor, on 14th July.

Within six weeks of the first arrival, a nest had been discovered near Barden Bridge, and pairs were then also seen at Lower Barden Reservoir and Otley Wetland, but the only proved successful breeding came from Kex Gill Quarry, Menston and reservoir sites at Leeshaw, Lower Laithe, Warley Moor and Thornton Moor.

In a fairly average year, there were only about 100 reports, covering 21 locations, and there was neither much evidence of breeding, nor visible migration during the return passage. The latter is evidenced by the last report being of a bird at Leeshaw Reservoir on 12th August, the earliest departee on record. The first arrival was, however, on a typical date, and the same as last year: at Lindley Wood Reservoir on 11th April.

Arrivals were noted mainly during this month and May, and two birds was usually the maximum, though there were a number of good counts of between five and seven at Warley Moor Reservoir in this period, and the year’s highest count of nine birds was made there on 10th June. Perhaps appropriately, this site produced two of the five breeding records, with two young seen in June, and three in July. The other ones were from Kex Gill Quarry, where the number of young couldn’t be determined, Thornton Moor Reservoir and Strid Wood where a total of four young were raised.

Clearly remains common and widespread in suitable habitat across the area, and paired birds were seen at five locations. There were, however, no specific breeding records.