MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus Uncommon but regular passage visitor.

2009 - A less than average year, with five reports of single birds, mainly from Barden Scale, where there were sightings on 31st July, 10th and 19th August, and 9th September. The first of these was a ‘cream crown’ bird, and the others juveniles (AGG et al). The other report came from Norwood Edge on 14th September (RHP).

2010 - Reports of this raptor have been steadily reducing in recent years, and only two records represents the worst showing since 2004. A bird flew west near Warley Moor Reservoir on 17th May (HBC), and another was seen at Draughton Heights on 13th August (GL).

2011 - Eleven records represents a return to form, and the best year since 2003. Spring passage produced single birds at St. Ives on 10th April (MD), Ilkley Moor on the 14th (JLT), and at Sconce on the 21st (RP), and there were two May records: at Barden Scale on the 9th (GH), and from watchpoint on the 22nd (DCB). This last location produced most of the autumn sightings, and individuals were seen on 15th September (DCB, HMC, LW et al), in October on the 13th (DCB, GH, RHP et al), and 26th, and on 7th November (DCB et al). A bird at Denholme Clough on 13th October (KM) was considered different from the one at Oxenhope that day, and the year’s only Washburn report came from on 4th September (P&LS).

2012 - Last year’s Report referred to a return to form, after a number of poor years from 2003. In 2012 the form book has been torn up, as 37 reports and an astonishing total of around 30 different birds are comfortably Group records. Unsurprisingly, about two-thirds of the reports came from the well- watched Barden Scale, starting with an early bird on 7th April. Singles were then seen on 14th and 18th June, and the day after produced the first sighting of a 1st-summer male, which spent the summer in the area, and was last seen on 23rd August. Different birds were then observed on four July dates : the 15th, 17th, 24th and 27th, and there was an additional individual in August on the 9th, with up to three between the 11th and 23rd. September sightings rounded off the area’s impressive year, with one from the watchpoint on the 2nd, and two on the 15th (AGG, BV et al) and an individual on Barden Fell on the 8th (WNS).

The results of intensive watching were also evident at the Oxenhope watchpoint, which had its most impressive autumn, comprising three birds on 5th August and one on the 19th, and other singles on 8th, 19th, 22nd and 26th September, plus another on 26th October (DCB, HC, LW et al).

The remaining six reports came from across the recording area. Following another early record, a bird at High Eldwick on 10th April (RHP), singles were seen at Lower Laithe Reservoir on 28th July, and in August at Haverah Park on the 2nd, Thruscross on the 12th (KM), and on Hawksworth Moor on the 21st (RHP), with two together on Moor the previous day (KM).

2013 - Following last year’s record haul of 37 reports featuring 30 birds, we returned to more prosaic times with just 14 records of single birds, of which four were in the spring. One of these birds, a female, flew south-east from Leeshaw on 27th March. On the final day of March, a similar bird flew down the valley over Snaygill Ings (IC). The final two spring reports were of two more females seen from Barden Scale on 20th April and 1st May (AGG et al). Watchers at Barden had two female birds, one on the 22nd August and another four days later (BV).

On the first of these dates, a well-watched juvenile was first seen quartering the moor to the west of Whetstone Gate before following the edge of Rivock Plantation and down to Bradup Allotment. BOG 2009 - 2018 1 25 August 2019 Later, it was picked up by observers at Glovershaw who could see the bird hunting beyond Weecher Reservoir (IH, TK & PCK). A female bird was seen at Leeshaw and then over the adjacent Haworth Moor on the 30th July, and a juvenile, seen at close quarters, flew from a fence post and headed north across Kex Gill Moor on 19th August (TK). The results of intensive watching were also evident at the Oxenhope watchpoint, where birds were sighted on the 7th, 14th September and 5th October (DCB et al). The remaining report was a bird in the south of the area, passing over Leeshaw Reservoir on the 9th September (BV).

2014 - There were 12 records concerning eight birds, fewer than last year and well down on the 30 birds that featured in 2012, but still, it was much better than the poor years between 2004 and 2011. Watchers at Barden Scale reported a cream-crowned bird in heavy flight feather moult, which was often seen flying over the adjacent moorland between 20th June and 8th July (AGG, BV). Two other individuals were seen from this vantage point, the first on 24th August and the other on 2nd September. Each of them was watched until disappearing up the valley and over the skyline (AGG).

A bird flew south over Hazlewood Moor on 8th May (RN) and in early autumn a juvenile male was seen on Burley Moor (KM). The other three sightings involved birds in the south of the area. On 22 August, at Redcar Tarn, a juvenile bird came from the north and was watched as it flew towards the south-west (KM). In the following month (11th) an adult female crossed over Warley Moor Reservoir in mid-afternoon (BV), and the final report was of a bird seen flying north-west at Leaventhorpe, Bradford on 22nd November (KM).

2015 - As in 2014, there were reports of eight birds, with the main attention focussed on the west of the area where half of the recorded birds were seen. Careful and persistent watching at a moorland site paid dividends when a male bird was seen on 23 April, later joined by a female. After several hours of watching, during which time both birds were seen to mob passing Buzzards, display flights and talon-grasping occurred. Nest-building was noticed from 16th May and daily checks over the next week gave every indication that incubation may have commenced. Alas that was the end of any further activity as the male, last seen on the 26th, had departed, followed shortly after by the female. A rudimentary nest was found and no disturbance was detected. It was assumed that at least one of the birds was an immature and this accounted for the failed breeding attempt. The weather throughout had been exceptionally cold, wet and very windy and this too could have contributed to the failure (IH).

It the same area a juvenile was seen regularly from 12th August, and according to the keeper, interfered with the grouse shoot. An adult female, first seen on 29th August, stayed on the moor until 20th September (IH). Earlier in the year, a female was seen over Middleton Moor on 22nd March (KM) and on 26th May a male was sighted on Denton Moor (JA). A juvenile was hunting at Bradup on 4th August (SR) and the final record was a female at Apperley Bridge on 4th October (KM).

2016 - Nine birds were recorded, much in line with the two previous years, and most were seen at two locations. At Barden Scale, “cream-crown” birds (at least one thought to be a juvenile) were seen on 13th April, 1st July and 4th September, and were clearly on passage (all BV). In the west of the area, the moorland where potential breeding activity took place in 2015 produced most of the remaining records. A 2nd-calendar year female was regularly seen between 10th May and 4th June, followed by “cream-crowns” on the 17th, and on 7th September, and a juvenile moved south- west on 15th August (all IH).

The only other sites involved were Lippersley Pike, where a female was seen on 13th January, and Addingham Moorside, where there was a juvenile on 26th August (both WNS).

2017 - Six observers reported a minimum of 13 birds. Singles were seen in May, June and August on Moor (IH), Burley Moor and Timble Ings in May (AJ), in the same month at Barden

BOG 2009 - 2018 2 25 August 2019 Scale (HC), and again in August (BV). The first Keighley Moor bird also passed over Leeshaw, and another was there in September (BS).

Two birds were at Farnley in May, and the same observer discovered a breeding pair on moorland in April (AJ), with probably one of the pair also being seen at Otley (WNS). Unfortunately, as a result of well-publicised disturbance, the breeding attempt failed.

2018 - Probably up to 14 different individuals were seen, much the same as 2017. Reports were split evenly between the north and south of the area, and in six months of the year. Wharfedale and the Washburn had records from Middleton Moor in January (AJ), Kex Gill in April (TK), Barden Fell in April and August (KM, BV), Beamsley Moor in May (AJ) and Timble Ings in September (WNS).

In the south, four of the reports were from Keighley Moor Reservoir in May, July, August and September (IH), Warley Moor Reservoir in July, August and September (BS, BV), and also near Oxenhope in the same month (RP)

BOG 2009 - 2018 3 25 August 2019