April 2005

A Green Sandpiper was noted at Marley on the 3rd April. photo: Brian Vickers ©

The weather was typically April with some unsettled spells, showers and bright, clear days that lift the spirit. The month opened with singing Chiffchaff at St. Ives and Otley Wetlands and Willow Warbler at Barden (2nd). Short-eared Owls were reported back on upland areas and drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers were many and well spread throughout the region. On the 2nd ten Sand Martin were noted in the Otley area, by the 9th numbers had risen to over 200. On the 3rd a Swallow was seen over Stockbridge and Marley had a Green Sandpiper. Eight Twite were noted at our Reservoir Watchpoint and a few at Fly Flatts and Cold Edge Dams where they also had a Raven and a Wheatear. Silsden Reservoir had two Whoopers also on this day (3rd). Up to 200 Golden Plover had assembled at Glovershaw (4th) and a Wheatear passed through Whetstone Gate.

It was a good time to be at Barden Scale with displaying raptors entertaining the members, 17 Whoopers passed on the 5th. On the 6th the first of six Ospreys noted throughout the area, passed the watch site and another went by at 10.50am on the 8th. Members watching at Leeshaw saw an Osprey on 15th and 21st. Wharfedale watchers again were rewarded on the 16th when an Osprey went towards the east, and another passed by on the 19th.The first Common Sandpiper was seen, having just arrived, at Cottingley on the 9th.

Two Ring Ouzel were noted around Coldstone Beck (11th) and a Little Ringed Plover was seen in Wharfedale (12th). Trough Lane was undoubtedly the most reliable spot for Wheatears with six on the 13th rising to 18 by the 29th.The first Pied Flycatchers (a pair) were spotted in Hirst Wood (17th). Sunday 23rd was a settled, sunny day which brought forth a clutch of early arrivals with the first Sedge Warbler and House Martin, and a very obliging Whitethroat at Stockbridge, Tree Pipit at St. Ives and Timble where there was also a Redstart. A Common Tern and a Swift passed through Otley on this date (23rd). The improvement in the weather produced a Spotted Flycatcher in Middleton Woods (24th) and a Cuckoo and Yellow Wagtail at Leeshaw (25th). The first Garden Warbler was heard at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits on the 29th.In contrast to summer migrants, some of our winter visitors were still with us. 150 Fieldfare were at Clifton (3rd), 20 Redpoll at Norwood Edge (5th) and over 30 were in St. Ives (9th) and 50 by 23rd. A few Brambling visited a Riddlesden garden on the (11th), and some were seen in Queensbury (16th), but over 50 of these birds had congregated on the Chevin on the 22nd. Over 50 Waxwing attracted attention outside the Surgery in Baildon (17th), 20 were counted in Queensbury and 4 in Cullingworth (26th).Other interesting records from around the region showed that six Mandarin ducks were on the Wharfe near Bolton Abbey (12th), a Sandwich Tern passed over Laycock (19th), a couple of Whimbrel at Otley Wetlands (20th), from an undisclosed site a male Marsh Harrier (21st) and on that date at Trough Lane a pair of Black Redstart.

It was pleasing to report that during the month, Yellowhammers had been seen at Sconce and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were seen in the Washburn (10th) and Strid Woods (19th) together with a Marsh Tit.