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.