This was the sunniest February on record, with bright clear skies throughout the first three weeks giving way to very windy conditions and some rain towards the end of the month.

It was generally, a poor month for outstanding sightings. A drake Scaup and a drake Red-crested Pochard showed well at the private wetlands site in Wharfedale until about the 17th, and a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen and photographed in Bull Copy Woods, Saltaire (9th). Another LSW was reported in the Aire Valley beneath Larch Wood (10th).

The largest flocks of Lapwings were seen at Redcar Tarn (350) and Cononley Ings (400+) during the first week of February and by the end of the month these birds had dispersed to their breeding territories. Oystercatchers had made a return to the area’s water courses and mating was observed at Stockbridge (3rd) and 37 of these waders had assembled at the private wetland site (17th). Two Water Rails were spending the month at Stockbridge, 275 Curlews had gathered at the private wetland site (17th) and reports of Golden Plover flocks came from Glovershaw, Oxenhope Moor and Round Hill.

Skeins of Pink-footed Geese were seen over the area during the latter part of January and this trend continued into early February, the largest groups being 240 over Keighley (9th) and 150 over Fly Flatts (10th). Duck numbers continued to be very poor, with only isolated reports of reasonable numbers. There was a count of 54 Wigeon at Knotford Nook (17th), where three Gadwall spent a few days and 73 Teal on the rapidly draining Cononley Ings (8th). Pochard were only reported at the private wetlands, John o’ Gaunts and Yeadon Tarn.

Male and female Peregrines were reported throughout the month in the Keighley area in both the urban and the surrounding moorland areas. Red Kites and Buzzards were regularly reported from Wharfedale, but a Buzzard over the centre of Keighley (17th) and four souring over Cononley Ings (10th) are worthy of special mention. At an undisclosed site, a female Goshawk was seen perched and later in the morning a male was seen close by. In Upper Wharfedale, four Short-eared Owls were reported hunting over moorland (12th).

Small numbers of Siskin were identified in Airedale with 22 at St. Ives (9th) and at the private wetland site in Wharfedale where over 20 were regularly seen. It was here that a leucistic Brambling was watched and photographed (27th), and during the earlier part of the month up to four Common Redpoll were recorded. Timble was clinging onto its wintering Crossbills with up to 16 seen there (15th).

Interesting locations for Dippers included Silsden Beck near the industrial estate, Myrtle Park and at Hirstwood Weir. Pairs of Goosanders were seen at many places along the River Aire. Stonechats were reported from Glovershaw, Barden Moor, Keighley Moor, Rombalds Moor, John o’ Gaunts, Round Hill and Nab End.

An over-wintering female Blackcap was reported from a Bingley garden (6th & 11th) and four Waxwings were seen feeding in a decorative garden shrub in this area (15th).

About 120 Pied Wagtails were seen roosting in the centre of Keighley near the Focus store whilst another 100 had gathered to feed on the filter beds at Dowley Gap.

Exotic bird of the month was an Alexandrine Parakeet which was seen by members around Saltaire as it imitated some of the resident birds.