July was mostly unsettled with a mixture of sunshine and showers with improving conditions towards the end of the month.

Highlights during this time included a flock of 27 Common Scoters on the choppy waters of Warley Moor Reservoir (5th). Two Yellow-legged Gulls, an adult and a sub-adult, were also present in this area and at nearby Ogden Reservoir during most of the month. Three adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen, two at Yeadon Tarn (30th) and one at Redcar Tarn. A few days earlier another adult Med Gull was reported flying towards Barden Reservoirs (23rd).

A Little Egret, which was first reported in the Menston area on the 7th, was seen by members up until the end of the month in the John o’ Gaunt’s and Beaverdyke areas. A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen briefly from the Three Rise Locks, Bingley (8th). Eight Twite were at the feeding station at Fly Flatts (31st) and a couple of post-breeding flocks of Crossbills were seen in the area, a flock of 40 at St. Ives (3rd) and a larger flock of over 60 at Barden Scale (2nd). Five Shoveler appeared at Redcar Tarn (9th) and a Green Sandpiper was briefly at Warley Moor Reservoir (4th).

Reports of nesting birds indicated that a pair of Spotted Flycatcher had been located at Upwood Farm Wood and two pairs of Whinchat, with fledged young, near Lower Barden Reservoir (11th).
Little Ringed Plover was reported from the exposed shoreline at Fly Flatts and three juveniles were noted in the Washburn Valley.

As usual, Stockbridge was an excellent spot to see and hear a wide variety of breeding warblers, this year enhanced by the presence of Reed Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler. The Reserve was also regularly visited by Peregrines, particularly on the 28th when one was seen to swoop, unsuccessfully, at a perched Black-headed Gull.

In what appears to have been a good breeding season, a juvenile Redstart was seen at John o’Gaunt’s (21st), another near Graincliffe (13th) and other juveniles of this species were located at Whetstone Gate (3rd & 10th). Intriguingly, juvenile Wheatears were reported at Fly Flatts (31st) and Whetstone Gate, where five young were seen (27th). A post-breeding flock of 120 Lapwing had assembled in the fields at Weecher (13th) and two pairs of Tufted Ducks were seen with young at John o’ Gaunt’s (19th).

The weather during July was disappointing with a westerly air-stream bringing showers and breezy conditions throughout most of the month.
However, some interesting birds were reported notably a Nightjar at Caldene Fields which was seen perched and then in flight (3rd) and four Black Redstarts were seen in the south of the area during the last week of the month. At the moorland watch-point, an observer reported a Little Gull being chased by a Black-headed Gull (30th) which finally landed next to another one already on the shore. They both bathed and preened but never settled and were finally spooked by a Crow and then flew off high towards the north west. Earlier in the month (8th) three Black-tailed Godwits spent a couple of hours at Redcar Tarn and a Little Egret flew down the Aire Valley (29th).

Throughout the month there were reports of both Mediterranean Gull and Yellow-legged Gull. An adult of the former species was seen at Redcar Tarn (21st) and a 1st-summer bird was there on the 12th. At the moorland watch-point, a succession of Yellow legged Gulls throughout the 24th, all short stayers, was no doubt the resultant of the return of the north westerly flow. Up to five were seen then with smaller numbers and singles on six other days.

Whinchats have successfully bred on Whetstone Allotment with adults and young seen on a few occasions. It was here that a family party of Stonechat was seen (29th) and, on the same day, three juveniles were by Bradup Beck. A female Stonechat with two young birds was seen at Weecher (19th).

Of the warblers, Whitethroat were seen at a number of locations, including Sconce Lane, where three caught the eye (27th) and at Stockbridge where a family group were watched. From the hide at the Reserve it was possible to see, at various times, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Chiff-chaff and Garden Warbler, some of them with juveniles.
A Cuckoo, believed to be an adult, was seen feeding on caterpillars and flying across the bottom of Birch Close Lane (12th). It perched on a variety of posts and rails and then dropped onto the ground to scoop up its prey, on one occasion it was mobbed by a Swallow.

At Stockbridge a family of four Peregrines circled overhead, and adult Kestrels were feeding their fledged young with three young waiting together on a field gate and two more back in the box (1st).

The exposed mud around our reservoirs was encouraging waders on passage to stop off and feed up. At the moorland watch-point, in the south of the area, up to six Ringed Plover were there (25th) together with a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. On the 29th a Ruff, on the back pools, was flushed off by a low helicopter, which just about cleared the deck!

Sunshine and showers, some heavy and prolonged, characterised another dismal July. The bird of the month was probably Hobby, with quite a few being seen at several locations. These included regular sightings in the Wharfe Valley, one at Leeshaw (20th) and a bird, which briefly perched, at Stockbridge Reserve (19th).

A Little Egret flew down the Wharfe Valley from Barden (14th) and a returning Osprey was reported at Barden Scale (5th) and another at the end of the month (30th).

There were reports of Crossbills in the area, particularly around Swinsty Car Park where 12 were seen (22nd) and at Bull Coppy Wood, Thruscross, where 16 were noted.

Interesting juvenile birds included two Wheatears at Leeshaw (14th), two Whinchats in the Wharfe Valley (17th) and three young Stonechats at March Ghyll Reservoir (1st).

Up to five Whitethroats were regularly seen at Stockbridge and a Grasshopper Warbler was noted at Skipton Sewage Works. Only a few Spotted Flycatchers were reported notably from Braden Bridge and St. Ives and the only wader of note was a Greenshank at Leeshaw (16th).

July’s weather was rather average, it was dominated by a westerly airflow that brought lots of cloud, some rain and a steady breeze making for unspectacular birding. Only a few waders were seen on passage, mostly at the moorland watchpoint, Cononley Ings and occasionally where there were limited areas of exposed shoreline.

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Cononley Ings (12th) and single birds at Redcar Tarn (18th) and the moorland watchpoint (25th). A Yellow-legged Gull was here two days later and on that day a Greenshank, a Whimbrel and four Dunlin passed through. A Green Sandpiper was reported on Redcar Tarn on the 30th, and it was here that a Little Tern was also watched on the same day. Other Terns in the area, were two Commons, seen occasionally at the private wetland site, and an Arctic Tern was feeding over Leeshaw Reservoir (15th).

Breeding Whinchats were seen by members near Upper Barden Reservoir, Whetstone Allotments (10th) and at Leeshaw Reservoir (9th) where a family party of six were located. Stonechats, now on their second broods, were again prominent from a wide variety of locations including Whetstone Allotments, Beamsley, Glovershaw and on Barden Moor where numbers were very good.

Spotted Flycatcher is always a delight to see and this month members reported their presence at Folly Hall and Barden Tower where feeding was taking place. Breeding Tree Pipits could be seen at Timble and Stainburn Plantation.

Of the sumer migrants a Grasshopper Warbler at Timble (3rd) and two Reed Warblers at the private wetlands (4th) were amongst the highlights. Unusually, two Turtle Doves were seen at Leatley (16th). Returning Wheatears were recorded towards the end of the month and other signs that summer is quickly passing by, came on the 27th, when 500 Swifts passed over the moorland watchpoint.

Sightings of Hobbies came during the early part of the month from between Otley and Askwith, and another was seen near Lindley Wood Reservoir (4th). A Short-eared Owl, successfully hunting over the moorland edge at Glovershaw (29th), was witnessed by a member.

Crossbills were recorded at Timble (2nd), a Wharfe Valley site, and surprisingly, in a Baldon Garden (3rd) and an old favorite, the White Stork, made a couple of ventures into our territory during the month.

July was a very wet month, with low pressure dominating, the area suffered numerous heavy downpours and together with May and June these three months were the wettest May, June and July since records began.

High water levels on the major reservoirs severely limited the opportunities for watching wading birds, and it was the flooded areas at Silsden, Kildwick and Cononley that provided some of the most notable sightings. At Silsden Floods two adult Dunlins were seen (21st), and the next day a large flock of over 260 Lapwings had gathered, together with a Common Sandpiper. On the 24th two Little Ringed Plovers were there together with Redshank, Dunlin and seven Snipe. Further west on the edge of our recording area, near Skipton Sewage Works, a Green Sandpiper was noted (25th), it had apparently already spent several days between there and the Carlton Road bridge. Other waders of note included a Greenshank seen flying over Draughton Heights (16th) heading for Chelker Reservoir and Whimbrel over Otley Wetland (22nd). There were also small numbers of Common Sandpipers at Warley Moor, Leeshaw and Thornton Moor Reservoirs.

Silsden Floods was the site where an adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen (8th), and an observer at Leeshaw reported three Common Terns flying over whilst at Lower Barden Reservoir two male Scoters (16th) were noted.

Migration was well under way by the end of the month, with the passage of certain species, particularly Wheatears, which had been noted at Whetstone Gate, Bradup, Glovershaw, Fly Flatts and Thornton Moor. Swifts were moving through the area from about the 22nd when 500+ were seen over Norr Hill, Wilsden, and 84 House Martins flew west during a period of observation at Fly Flatts (29th).

Stonechats were much in evidence on the moorland fringes with juveniles and adult birds seen together or singly at Glovershaw, Baildon, Whetstone Gate, Sconce Lane and Barden Moor. It was here that two pairs of breeding Whinchats had been seen with young birds. Also on these Barden Fells a young Cuckoo was reported flying short distances followed by Meadow Pipit parents.

Breeding Sparrowhawks were suspected at Stockbridge where an adult bird was seen carrying food and at Alder Carr Wood.an adult bird was seen with at least one juvenile. Other breeding reports were of Tufted Ducks at Redcar Tarn, Spotted Flycatchers at Gallows Hill, Otley and Bridgehouse Beck, Oxenhope, Whitethroats also at Gallows Hill and Kestrels at Stockbridge Reserve. Perhaps most intriguingly a Juvenile Wheatear was seen feeding at Gill Beck on Barden Moor.

Perhaps the most spectacular sight of the month was seen by a member who watched a fly past of 60 Curlews on Lower Barden Fell, but the visit of a Willow Tit to a Queensbury garden was certainly a memorable event.

July was very hot. Records showed that it was the hottest single month since 1914. It was also dry, with only small amounts of precipitation and reservoirs and rivers were greatly affected. A part of Rombald’s Moor was on fire for a few days before the blaze was eventually brought under control.

At the beginning of the month, the hot and sultry weather brought interesting movements of birds with a wave of 1200 Swifts passing the moor-land watch-point on the 1st.

July is always the month when we watch for the early stages of return migration, particularly waders. Conditions during the month were ideal and bode well for the next few weeks as receding water levels, and high temperatures, gave rise to our increasing anticipation. The moor-land watch-point was a good place to visit as waders were beginning to use the exposed mud on the western edge of the reservoir. On the 6th, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Curlew, Snipe and Lapwing were all present and by the end of the month Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Golden Plover were also reported feeding there from time to time. Common Sandpipers were also present at Doe Park (1st) and Leeming (23rd). Oystercatchers were noted at Weecher (3rd), Doe Park (9th), Leeshaw (20th) and Dowley Gap (22nd). Little Ringed Plovers were seen at Leeshaw (7th) and at Leeming Reservoir where six had gathered on the 23rd. A Greenshank appeared at Otley Wetland Nature Reserve on the 18th and a Green Sandpiper was briefly at Stockbridge (26th).

July is also a month to watch for post-breeding flocks of birds, in gardens, woodlands and on moor-land fringes. Glovershaw and Sconce were good areas to see family groups of Stonechats, Reed Buntings, Starlings, Lapwings, Willow Warblers and Meadow Pipits. It was this area where at least three Stonechats have successfully bred and three male Yellowhammers continued to utter their instantly recognisable song. Barden Moor was also host to breeding Stonechats (18th), with at least three pairs seen in the area between the reservoirs. Another pair of Stonechats were very noticeable alongside Trough Lane. Reports of Whinchat were confined to a pair at Whetstone Gate and possibly up to two pairs at Barden, again in the area between the reservoirs (18th).

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers continued to be seen, with good sightings at Bull Copy Woods near Hirstwood and at Stockbridge, which was also an excellent place to see a variety of breeding songbirds, including Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. In the south of the region, a ‘reeling’ Grasshopper Warbler was heard on the 22nd on Soil Hill.

Reports have suggested that Kestrels have been successful in their breeding, with nine broods ringed, one pair has used one of BOGs owl boxes. Long-eared and Short eared Owls have not faired as well. The Owls breeding season has been seriously affected by the low number of voles available to them. An Osprey passed through the moor-land watch-point (13th) and two later, a Marsh Harrier was seen, just over the hill at Fly Flats.

July can also be a month to look out for those subtle variations in the Gull population. Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the moor-land watch-point from the 23rd and at Cullingworth Fields (18th) and Yellow-legged Gulls were also at Cullingworth and the watch-point.

The transition period between spring and autumn is a short one and reverse migration was underway this month.

A big movement of Swifts passed Thornton Moor Reservoir continued apace and from this well-watched site a total of 297 Swifts went SW on the 2nd. The next day, there was a sudden, broad-fronted movement of Swifts with a minimum total of 1491 passing WSW. On the 9th, high gull arrivals from the NE, E and SE were noted, most were Black-headed, but Lesser Black-backed were on the move as well. A total of fifteen Sand Martins (first this autumn) were noted in two groups feeding high above the north flank of the water-shed on the updraft, together with a couple of House Martins. Eight Curlews passed through westwards in three groups all calling as they went, and eight Golden Plovers passed along Trough Lane on that date.

On the 10th at Cold Edge Dams Curlew numbers had increased with 29 noted in various groups flying westwards with low fast direct flights. Also at this spot, three Shovelers stopped for a while before flying off eastwards. The night migration of a Common Scoter was evidenced by a single male, mainly sleeping on the water at Thornton Moor throughout the morning of the 23rd. During the afternoon, the Scoter left due to disturbance and a Whimbrel went through heading south, repeatedly calling, and the post-breeding congregation of Curlews had increased to 46.

Towards the end of the month Dunlin and Greenshank had visited this watch-point.John o’ Gaunts Reservoir is always worth a visit at this time of year and already, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover and a couple of Snipe had put in an appearance. A Little Egret made a brief visit to Leeshaw (7th) and a male Montegu’s Harrier passed through Barden (9th). Very few Spotted Flycatchers were recorded within the area, but a possible breeding pair was seen regularly in St. Ives. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Stockbridge, was seen again by members (24th).

Birds of Prey numbers were reported as holding up well with Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk , Little Owl, Tawny Owl and Long-eared Owl all breeding successfully. Twelve pairs of Long-eared Owls with successful broods is a magnificent record. Towards the end of the month, members noted Peregrine and Hobby passing through the region.