The weather during February was, for the most part, generally very mild, with westerly winds, at times very strong. A touch of winter weather descended early in the month before the more normal mild air-flow returned.

The American Robin that had attracted ‘birders’ from around the country stayed until the 14th and the over-wintering Firecrest and Shorelark were still present throughout the month at Dowley Gap and Queensbury. Interest switched to Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers that had been seen regularly from the 3rd at a couple of locations in Shipley Glen. A single male bird and a pair of birds were noted. A member also reported a male bird in Middleton Woods, Ilkley.

Lapwings were gathering at various places, most notably at Lower Barden Reservoir where a flock of up to 3000 was recorded (2nd). Elsewhere, Ten Yards Lane Thornton (1st), Denton Hall (7th), Redcar Tarn (11th), Glovershaw (13th), Timble (15th) had good flocks of between 100 and 300, but at Otley Wetland 500 had assembled (15th). Golden Plovers were also coming together in bigger groups with 100 on the water-logged fields of Glovershaw (23rd).

Other waders to be reported included Curlews which were congregating in the Wharfe Valley with over 500 roosting at Otley Wetland together with 50 Oystercatchers (7th). It’s possible that most of the Curlews were feeding during the daylight hours on Askwith Moor where up to 300 had been observed. At the end of the month 93 Curlews were counted at Silsden Ings. Very few reports of Snipe were received, but seven being flushed by a marauding Sparrowhawk near Golcar Farm, Glovershaw was a fine sight (23rd). Two Snipe were noted at Stockbridge (25th), on the same day that a Redshank briefly called.

Geese movements were again well recorded the highest being 600 Pink-feet passing over East Riddlesden Hall (1st) and 300, three days later, over the same area.

It has been a very poor winter period for ducks and the trend continued through February, with a few notable exceptions being a pair of Gadwall at Knotford (7th), a pair of Shovelers at Otley Wetland (15th) and on the same day there were 20 Goldeneyes at this location.

Stonechats were reported from around the area, at such places as Glovershaw, Fly Flatts (a pair on the 4th), Thornton Moor (a pair on the 24th), Middleton Moor, Hazlewood Moor and Sconce, where a Yellowhammer was seen on the 20th. It was in this area where a Short-eared Owl was seen late in the afternoon on three occasions during the month an another was reported over Oxenhope Moor (23rd). Skylarks have also returned to the moorland areas and Twite continued to be seen on the high ground around Fly Flatts and Soil Hill, and it was here that a Snow Bunting was present on the 3rd and two more were seen at Thornton Moor on the 24th.

The very mild weather had encouraged butterflies out of hibernation and early breeders included a Song Thrush carrying food and a Blackbird feeding a large fledgling.