It was the driest March for 50 years and conditions were ideal for exploring our large range of habitats. The birds that had entertained us throughout the winter continued to be seen, namely the male Hawfinch at St. Ives, was there until the 12th, and the Great Grey Shrike at Storiths was reported at the beginning and end of the month. Waxwing flocks were reported on nine occasions, all but one of them from Airedale, with the largest at Oxenhope on the 16th when 60 birds were seen feeding. This has also been a good winter for Bramblings with a few frequently turning up in gardens, but 40, seen in Tong Park feeding amongst horses, was the largest flock reported.

Golden Plovers had gathered at their regular stop-overs particularly Stainburn where over 400 were seen (28th), there were 195 at Glovershaw (30th), 150 at Blubberhouses (3rd) and 52 at Moorside Lane, Oxenhope (8th).

Whooper Swans visited the area with a large flock of 74 on Thruscross Reservoir (8th) and seven at the private wetland site (18th). At the latter location on the same day, a Pintail was present and a Willow Tit was also noted. The only wader of note was a Dunlin on Redcar Tarn (12th).

A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers attracted attention in the vicinity of High Coach Road, Baildon, five Twite were seen at Fly Flatts (24th) and a male Yellowhammer was calling from a tree on the Glen Road, Baildon. Certainly the best garden record came from Riddlesden where at least two Common Redpolls visited the feeder and were duly photographed.

The first migrants appeared in the form of a singing Chiffchaff at Dowley Gap (18th), a Sand Martin at Stockbridge (30th), a Swallow over Baildon (31st) and three Wheatears had been seen in the area on the 13th.

A Sparrowhawk was seen taking a bat at Caldene Fields (18th) and a couple of White Storks dropped into Esholt (21st) whilst a pair of Kestrels battled with Jackdaws over the nest box at Stockbridge.
Pairs of dippers on River Aire

March was dry, bright, but cool for the first three weeks, then, after the equinox, there was a change to an unsettled pattern with some heavy rain and blustery showers.

The month began with the passage of skeins of Pink-footed Geese making their traditional journey across our region towards the north-west. Groups of 70 were reported on the first two days and on the 3rd, from the moorland watch-point, over 600 passed in large swathes and on the next day 120 were seen by an observer at Stockbridge. A few days later (9th), 37 Whooper Swans flew west along the Aire Valley.

Golden Plovers had gathered on the moors to the north and west of Baildon with over 80 seen at Glovershaw and another similar flock at Reva, whilst Red Kite was often seen in this area.

A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were seen at close quarters by members on the Higher Coach Road, Baildon (7th) and a male was drumming at Crag Vale, Apperley Bridge. It was here that a Firecrest was seen for a few days, at the beginning of the month, together with a small number of Goldcrests. Nine Waxwings had gathered in the Ashfield Drive area of Shipley (4th to 14th) and a couple more in Tesco’s car park, Ilkley (1st), whilst another five appeared in a nearby garden (15th). Two Marsh Tits were seen at Bull Copy Wood and a single bird was at Low Scargill Plantation (17th).

Peregrines were seen on a number of occasions in the Aire Valley and an Osprey was seen shortly after mid-day flying up the Wharfe Valley (17th).

Lapwings, Curlew and Snipe were on territory at traditional sites and 64 Oystercatcher had gathered at Thruscross (9th) and a Mediterranean Gull made a brief visit to Redcar Tarn (25th).

A male Gadwall spent a few days at the private wetland site (14th to 19th) and was joined by a Shoveler (19th). On the 25th, a pair of Black-necked Grebes, in full breeding plumage, were seen on one of the lakes and the following day two Whooper Swans were feeding.

There were still reports of our winter specialties in the form of Brambling, Crossbill, Fieldfare and Redpoll when attention was switched, expectantly, to the forthcoming migration. On the 17th, a Sand Martin flew along the Wharfe and four days later a male Wheatear was reported at Whetstone Gate. There then followed a strong passage of Wheatears with over 40 seen moving through Trough Lane in the following week during which a Ring Ouzel was noted (24th). A Black Redstart cheered the observers on Stainburn Moor (27th), whilst on the same day a Common Sandpiper was seen on the Wharfe and a Little Ringed Plover was in the Aire Valley.

March was mainly dry, and at times unseasonally warm, but towards the end there was a return to cool northerly winds.

Early migration was marked by the arrival of Sand Martins at the traditional site of Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits, when a single bird passed through (15th). A few days later, 26 Sand Martins were feeding over the Private Wetland site (19th) and the next day a House Martin was over Warley Moor Reservoir. A Ring Ouzel was noted at Top Withins, above Haworth on the 21st and on the same day a Common Sandpiper called at Redcar Tarn. It was a week later, in Oxenhope, that a single Swallow was seen feeding over the village and two days later, at least two different Ospreys were seen during the day at Barden Scale (30th).

Nab Water Lane recorded the earliest Wheatear (15th), the following day there were three, and further reports were from Trough Lane, (five on the 21st), Rivock Edge and Whetstone Gate.
A Black Redstart stayed briefly at Whetstone Gate (29th) and a small flock of 12 Waxwings found enough food for a longer stay at the end of Grange Rd Stockbridge (21st).

A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was watched on the High Coach Road (11th & 13th, 20th) and another (or perhaps the same bird) was seen on a few occasions on the edge of Hirst Wood. A female bird was seen at the bottom end of Saltaire Road in Eldwick (24th) and another LSW was reported from Middleton Woods (4th). Photographs were taken of a pair at Apperley Bridge who seemed intent on nest building.

Whooper Swans visited in good numbers with 58 flying over Barden (19th) where 41 had been on the nearby reservoir three days earlier and seven were seen on Lindley Wood Reservoir (18th).

The scarce Willow Tit was reported from a Cottingley garden (19th) and at the more usual Scargill Reservoir (13th). Small numbers of Redpoll were recorded, but two visitors to a Riddlesden garden were definitely Meally Redpolls. Two Brambling were on the feeders at the Private Wetlands (11th), 35 Oystercatchers had assembled here, and further north, at Swinsty Reservoir, three White Wagtails could be seen with Pieds, despite the appalling weather conditions.

A singing male Twite was noted by the feeding area at Warley Moor Reservoir (15th) where, three days later, two birds with coloured leg-rings were also feeding. Pairs of Stonechats were reported from around the region from such places as far apart as Draughton, Nab Water Lane, Whetstone and Stainburn and the song of the Chiffchaff was once more with us.

The weather during March was rather poor. Strong winds from the west brought heavy rain during the first part and the second half was dominated by cold winds from the north which brought snow showers during the third week. The month ended on a quieter note with some sunshine developing.

Despite the rather unsettled conditions, members reported plenty of interest from around the area with some highlights. A Red-throated Diver, was found ‘grounded’ by a local farmer (20th) who, with the help of friends, captured the bird and released it Embsay Reservoir where it remained until the end of the month, happily fishing. A Scaup and Red-crested Pochard were still in residence at Wharfedale’s private wetland site and a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen heading towards the Worth Valley and Airedale on the 29th. An adult Kittiwake was identified on Redcar Tarn (29th) and a Common Scoter frequented Silsden and Chelker Reservoirs (28th), whilst on the previous day an Osprey was seen heading north from the watch-point at Barden.

On the 17th, four Waxwings appeared on Church Street, Bingley and were content to feed until into April.Whooper Swans appeared in small groups around the area with three on Chelker (9th), at least ten on Lindley (20th), six over Wilsden (23rd), seven on Fly Flatts (24th), three on Swinsty (31st) and one bird at the private wetland site (31st). Other interesting visitors included an adult Mediterranean Gull in full adult plumage at Holden Park, Riddlesden (30th) and a Firecrest was photographed whilst visiting a Queensbury garden (16th).18 Pink-footed Geese were seen on Lower Laithe (1st) and later in the month at Scarhouse Reservoir, 116 dropped in (28th). Golden Plovers were returning to the moorland areas with flocks seen at Moorside Lane, Oxenhope (1st), Leeshaw (16th) and Glovershaw (27th). Curlew also were seen in large flocks with 145 on the flooded fields of Cononley (11th) and another 46 at nearby Silsden.

Other birds gathered in good numbers included 92 Teal at Cononley Ings (13th), 44 Oystercatchers near Bolton Bridge (23rd) and 24 Goldeneye at the private wetlands (23rd). Six Redshank were observed on Leeshaw Reservoir (17th), two White Wagtails at Swinsty Reservoir (24th) and a Shelduck was at Cononley Ings (13th). The ‘Wheatear Count’ was beginning to spring into action with a bird registered on Barden Fell (20th), following which, they were seen on Soil Hill, Fly Flatts, Whetstone Gate, Trough Lane, the moorland watch-point, in addition to more sightings from Barden. Pairs of Stonechats were also noted at most of these places.

The first Sand Martins were seen in Wharfedale (14th), and a Swallow was seen in the Aire Valley on the 30th. A Common Sandpiper on Swinsty Reservoir (24th), was possibly an over-wintering bird re-found and the elusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen once more on the Higher Coach Road, Baildon (30th) and on the previous day at Cragg Wood.

Saltaire was the place to see exotic birds with an Alexandrine Parakeet, a male Mandarin and an overflying White Stork (9th) making an appearance.

March was mainly dry, with a long mild spell at the beginning, which eventually gave way to cold north and north-east winds by the middle of the month. This trend continued with clear sunny days.

Highlights were few, but 74 Whooper Swans at Lower Barden Reservoir (26th) was a very special moment. Other Whoopers had been recorded in smaller flocks migrating in the night over Cottingley (3rd), fifteen flew over John o’ Gaunts (13th), two were on the water at TMR (18th) and observers at Ogden Water saw fifteen on the 27th where a Barnacle Goose was also seen. The flushing of 27 Snipe in the wet areas of Bingley North Bog (5th) was another great surprise! Golden Plovers gathered in good sized flocks at various locations including Sandwith Moor and Scargill Reservoirs where 600 were recorded on the 13th. Much smaller flocks could be seen at Glovershaw, TMR and Thruscross during this period. There was a gathering of 150 Curlews at Silsden Floods (6th) as the birds were returning to their upland breeding grounds. Early summer migration was getting under way in the form of four Sand Martins at Knotford Nook (17th), a singing Chiffchaff at Goit Stock, Harden (11th) and a singing Blackcap at Crossflatts (23rd). A male Wheatear was seen at Trough Lane on the 31st.

Winter visitors such as Brambling could still be seen, the best count being 50 at Swinsty (2nd) and 20 along Ilkley Road, Riddlesden on the 18th. Small numbers of Redpoll and Siskins were noted at St. Ives and Fewston and Fieldfares were often seen, with the biggest flock being 200 near the Doubler Stones, Rombalds Moor (28th).Other reported sightings around the moors included Stonechats which were seen in a good number of places including Bingley Moor (2nd), Trough Lane (3rd), Glovershaw (10th), Hazlewood Moor (11th), Cold Edge Dams (11th), Fly Flatts (11th), Whetstone Gate (11th) and Upper Barden where two pairs were on territory (23rd). Eight un-ringed Twite were near the feeding area at Fly Flatts (11th) and a Raven was mobbed by crows near Whetstone Gate (15th).

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was again present in Shipley Glen and Bull Copy Woods and at a private site in Wharfedale (16th). A Song Thrush was feeding two young birds (20th) and eight Bullfinches visited a Baildon garden, an occasion of note (2nd).
Several sightings of escaped exotic species were reported during the month with an African Grey Parrot and a number of Rose-ringed Parakeets being the most noteworthy.

The weather during March was significantly different from what had gone before. It was colder and wetter, with a northerly air-flow dominating the first three weeks giving biting winds and clear blue skies, before westerlies brought bouts of rain and wind during the last couple of weeks. There were two periods of snow that helped strengthen the feeling that this was probably the worst month of the winter.

The months’ birding report begins with a sighting of a Red Kite over Otley Town Centre (1st). Waxwings were seen throughout the month at Salts Mill, Saltaire with a high of 45 on the 28th, a flock of 25 were in Leonard Street, Bingley (25th) and a small flock of twelve were noted in Ilkley (15th).A female Blackcap continued to frequent a Crossflatts garden, having over-wintered with the help of decaying apples. Stonechats were at Sandwith Moor (5th), St. Ives had a small flock of Siskin (5th), at Lindley Wood there was a Willow Tit (4th), Gallows Hill seven Redpoll (20th) and an observer at Queensbury found eleven Skylarks (9th) on the cricket pitch!

At Otley Wetland Nature Reserve over 350 Curlew had assembled (5th) together with over 40 Oystercatchers and a pair of Scaup and a male Gadwall visited on the 25th. Large numbers of Curlew were also present at Conningley Ings (16th), together with Redshank (11), Teal (37), Wigeon and Lapwing (108). Golden Plover numbers were particularly low this month, although a flock of 1200 was on the fields by Sandwith Moor (21st). Visiting Gulls including a 2nd year Yellow-legged at Queensbury (25th) and two adult Mediterranean Gulls in breeding plumage on the flooded area near Silsden. There were very few reported sightings of yellow-billed swans, but at Silsden Reservoir ten Whoopers were there on 9th and at Lindley Wood Reservoir, two were present on the 23rd. Certainly one of the highlights during March was the sight and sound of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers from two of our areas. Shipley Glen and a private site were the places to see a pair of these birds, calling and drumming and showing very well. On the Higher Coach Road, Baildon (31st), one male and two females were oberved.The inclement weather no doubt delayed the onset of migration, but by the 29th, over 150 Sand Martins were using this site and sightings were reported from throughout Wharfedale. Swallows had also been seen in this area with two birds passing Barden Bridge on 30th. The first report of a Wheatear was from Whetstone Gate (23rd) and two days later, two Snow Buntings were spotted. A Marsh Harrier and an osprey flew over Fly Flatts (25th) and a passage that included 195 Meadow Pipits were counted in this area.

Widespread reports of Buzzard, Red Kite, Peregrine, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Raven, Sparrowhawk and Kestrels from many places made satisfactory reading as the month drew to a close.

The early part of March had north westerlies and was accompanied by frequent snow showers across the region with slight accumulations forming. Two Black Swans found their way into Myrtle Park, Bingley (1st) and the Bean Goose was still at Leeshaw. Skylarks were returning to their upland breeding areas with seven recorded at Leeshaw (3rd) and ten at Soil Hill (9th). It seems that Manningham Park Bradford can turn up interesting birds with 24 Goosander and a Gadwall seen there early morning on the 5th. Reports of Common Buzzard were made from throughout the region and Red Kites were consistently seen away from their usual area during this period. Waxing continued to turn up in small flocks, twenty at Otley (12th), forty on Sunbridge Road and twenty-five by the College (15th). Three Sand Martins were noted in Wharfedale (17th). On the 19th the ‘metal-pecker’ was drumming in St. Ives, four Twite were at Leeshaw, 35 Goldeneye at the Wharfedale Wetland Site and Wheatears were noted at Trough Lane and Castle Carr Road.

The first reported Swallow was seen on the 20th. The following day twenty-four Whoopers were seen at Lower Laithe Reservoir. Little Ringed Plover appeared at a Sewage Farm in the Aire Valley and the following day Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Water Rail were noted. By the 23rd six Wheatear were at Trough Lane and Chiffchaff were singing throughout the area. A flock of 3000 Golden Plover had assembled on Sandwith Moor (25th), and a smaller, if not insignificant group of 200 were behind Golcar Farm, Baildon (26th). Sand Martin numbers had increased by the 28th when over 60 were noted at Knotford. On the 29th over 8000 Golden Plover had assembled in roadside fields on Sandwith Moor and on Bingley Moor (Thimble Stones) a male Whinchat was spotted. From the south of the region around the reservoirs at Cold Edge, Leeshaw and Fly Flats came reports of small numbers of Twite, Linnet and a single Short-eared Owl. Leeshaw had a high of 19 Twite on the 30th and the month ended, in very poor overhead conditions, with over 100 Sand Martin and 5 Tree Sparrows at Knotford Nook.