June was an unsettled month with showers, sometimes heavy which were mixed in with sunny intervals. Generally, it was quiet with members’ major interest turning to breeding birds. Records are emerging of successful pairs of Pied Flycatchers, Wood Warblers and Redstarts from the Upper Wharfe and Washburn valleys. A male Whinchat was in full song on the Whetstone Allotments (20th), at a spot where they have previously been seen, and probably bred in the recent past. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard at Timble (14th)

An Osprey moved slowly over Oxenhope (26th) and the next day two Ruff, in breeding plumage, were nearby on Warley Moor Reservoir. It seems that this year there has been, nationally, an influx of Nightjars and it was a pleasure to learn that a bird has been located in the St. Ives area.

A member, watching from the hide at Stockbridge, had an excellent view of a Cuckoo (25th) where there was, as previously, an impressive gathering of warblers including Reed, Sedge, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat which appear to be having a good breeding season. Nearby, an adult Peregrine with prey and a demanding juvenile were seen.

Stonechats, once again, have not been as prolific as they were about four years ago but a pair were identified feeding a couple of young in the quarry at Whetstone Gate (1st). Another pair were at the traditional site of Stainburn Moor and nearby in the plantation a number of breeding Tree Pipits were located. This species has also been seen at Timble and White Wells, Ilkley. A member reported two juvenile Spotted Flycatchers at Goose Eye, near Keighley.

June was warm, sunny and predominately dry after an unsettled start when wind and rain spoilt the first days.

The resulting dry weather had exposed areas of shoreline which encouraged post-breeding waders to congregate in small groups. At an Oxenhope reservoir, a Yellow legged Gull dropped in briefly before moving off to the north (26th). Over the previous few days Curlews had gathered here in the evenings, but on the 25th, 81 were strung out along the waters edge. Strident migratory calls rang out against a silent moorland background and after sunset, as the big yellow moon began to rise, they got noisier and noisier and suddenly, just before 11pm they lifted off en-mass, gaining height with a terrific din and headed away to the west, leaving not a single Curlew.

Cuckoo was present right up until the end of the month, with a female seen searching for Meadow Pipit nests at Timble. Another Cuckoo was reported on the fence, in front of the hide at Stockbridge (26th). On the same day a late pair of Cuckoo were seen on Barden Moor where a male was calling from around the lower reservoir. A female was noted ten minutes later near the upper reservoir where only her head was seen sticking out of the heather where she was presumed to be laying whilst being fiercely attacked by a pair of Meadow Pipits.

Reed Warbler have successfully bred at Stockbridge, where a pair were seen feeding young whilst another male was singing and at the private wetland site where five adults were seen and a juvenile bird (27th). Also at Stockbridge, Whitethroat with young birds were much in evidence and Garden Warbler was often heard. At nearby Low Wood a pair of Garden Warbler were seen feeding young birds (10th). Spotted Flycatcher was reported from near Swinsty Car Park (22nd), Strid Woods (20th) and singing in a wood above Beckfoot Lane (4th).

Breeding Whinchat in the Whetstone Gate area were well watched and another two pairs were located on Barden Moor, where a pair of Stonechat were seen on the members’ walk (12th). Four Kestrel had fledged and one more remained in the box at Stockbridge, nesting Tree Sparrows were reported at Timble village and intriguingly, a female Wheatear was seen at Leeshaw (27th).

A Hobby was hawking over moorland near Leeshaw Reservoir (16th) a Red Kite sailed low over Baildon Moor (11th), two Common Tern were on the boating lake at the private wetlands (27th) and Osprey was seen in the Barden area (14th).

The weather during June was rather mixed with a dry, settled, and at times hot period at the end of the month. The major highlight was undoubtedly a male Golden Oriole, seen and heard, from the canal tow-path at Low Wood, Riddlesden on the 8th and 9th. This was only the third time that such a bird has been seen in the BOG area and confirmation is subject to acceptance by the Records Committee. Three Common Scoters made a brief appearance at the ‘members’ only’ reserve on the 22nd, five days later a Spotted Redshank flew through this area and a Ringed Plover was seen by Lower Barden Reservoir (5th).

Cuckoos were heard calling from Sconce Lane (3rd), Lindley Wood (15th), Hardisty Hill (16th) and excellent sightings of active birds were reported by members from Barden Moor and above Strid Wood (8th).

Our concern over the low number of breeding Stonechat was illustrated with a report of just one family seen at Lower Barden. On Whetstone Allotment, a pair of Whinchat showed signs of breeding (30th) and at Sconce, alongside the Golf Course, a male Yellowhammer was noted on a couple of occasions.

A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in Toad Holes Beck (1st) and Reed Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler could be seen at Stockbridge and the private Wetlands site. Very few Spotted Flycatchers were reported, with just one seen, on the Storiths Road, close to Strid Wood.

It certainly looks like 2009 will be a poor breeding season for passerines, but some species particularly woodpeckers appear to be doing well. There’s been many reports of Green Woodpecker (with probably four pairs in the Baildon area alone) and another sighting of a Lesser Spotted, this time from a private lake in Wharfedale. The most intriguing record was of a female Wheatear at Nab End (19th), but further investigations showed that there was no evidence of this species in the area.

June was mainly dry, with a mixture of heavy overcast conditions and sunny spells; but a strong wind, at times near gale force, was perhaps the dominant feature of the month. There were numerous reports of successful breeding from a range of species, occasionally accompanied by excellent photos taken by members. The main highlights of the month consisted of a pair of breeding Yellow Wagtails between Knotford Nook and Gallows Hill, and a pair of Black Redstarts, seen by members in Bradford City Centre. Elsewhere, three pairs of Stonechats on Baildon Moor produced at least ten juveniles (8th), and pairs of this species, with young birds, were also present at Nab End and on the Whetstone Allotments. A pair of Whinchats were also noted at the latter location, so carrying on the pattern of previous years, and a male Yellowhammer was seen and heard on the Glen Road, at Glovershaw, Baildon (4th).

Of the visiting breeding birds, Garden Warblers seemed quite common this year, particularly prominent in the Washburn Valley and at Gallows Hill, Otley, where five singing males were heard (24th). Whitethroats were also seen here and at nearby Knotford Nook, Sconce, Doe Park, Marley Playing Fields and Stockbridge where adults were seen feeding young birds. Also at our reserve Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler had both settled in. So far, there were only a few reports of Spotted Flycatcher with reports from Knotford Nook (9th), Barden Bridge (13th), St. Ives (14th) and Low Wood where the adults were feeding juveniles (19th). It was here, that a possible pair of Pied Flycatchers had become established during the month. Birds of Prey featured during the month with two breeding pairs of Peregrines reported, numerous breeding Kestrels, Buzzards and visiting Hobbies (6th & 17th), a female Marsh Harrier at Otley Wetland (4th), and an Osprey appeared over Leeshaw on the 27th. The following day, a Common Scoter was on this reservoir and another was at the moorland watchpoint.

Sand Martins had established colonies at various locations, including Ponden, Riddlesden, Ben Rhydding and Barden. Common Sandpipers were seen along our rivers and reservoirs and Little Ringed Plovers had bred successfully, by a seasonal pond, besides the A650, and others were reported from Soil Hill and Doe Park Reservoir. Redstarts were reported from John o’ Gaunt’s, Gallows Hill, Strid Wood, Barden Aqueduct and Storiths, where feeding was observed. Crossbill and Siskin were still present with more than 50 of the former in the larches of the adjacent wood at Barden Bridge (13th). Exotic bird of the month was a White Stork over Wharfedale, seen on a couple of occasions from the 15th.

After a dry and sunny start to June the weather changed for the worst on or about the 11th. After that there was a continuous period of heavy rain, with down-pours occurring on most days, which led to the filling of reservoirs, rivers and all other water courses.

The poor weather obviously kept down the number of opportunities for birding but the floods probably contributed to the visit of seven Black-tailed Godwits at Kildwick Ings (26th). Yellow-legged Gulls were beginning to be reported with a bird seen on the River Wharfe in the Barden Bridge area (28th). Of the other highlights, the successful fledging of three Peregrines in Keighley ranks very high, along with the presence at an undisclosed site of two male Nightjars, and two pairs of Long-eared Owls which were seen with at least two young birds each. A welcome visitor in the shape of a Hobby was seen in the Wharfe Valley (10th).Most of the other significant sightings included adults with juvenile birds. There were reports of Bullfinches, Sedge Warblers, Whitethroats, a Goosander (17th) and Moorhens with young, a Cuckoo being fed by a Meadow Pipit on Barden Fell (28th) where a pair of Cuckoos had been reported throughout the month, and a Blackcap with fledglings in Strid Wood (24th). By the end of the month a pair of Kestrels were feeding two young birds on the reserve at Stockbridge and many woodland areas recorded post-breeding family parties of Tits, Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

On the moorland fringes, Skylarks were breeding at Glovershaw and Harden Fell and Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Linnets were all reported from similar habitat by members. Along the area’s rivers Sand Martins had successfully bred on the Wharfe at Barden, the Aire at Bingley and on Ponden Reservoir. Kingfishers were seen with juveniles on the Aire (16th) and at Stockbridge.Spotted Flycatchers at Barden Bridge (6th), Timble (21st), St. Ives (16th), Strid Wood (20th), and it was here that one of the few Wood Warblers was seen. Yellowhammers are in situ at their traditional breeding areas of Glovershaw and Sconce, where a total of four males were counted.Barden Fell and Whetstone Gate were the places to see Whinchats, with a pair seen at the former site on the 9th. Stonechats were reported from Barden Fell (9th) , Otley Wetland (4th), Whetstone Gate (24th), Glovershaw (11th & 23rd), and a pair of adults with two juveniles were noted at Penistone Hill Oxenhope (17th).Lapwings and Curlews with chicks were seen in the Glovershaw and Beamsley/Langbar area and by the end of the month, post-breeding parties of these birds were noticed, with 40 Lapwings at Glovershaw (23rd) and 60 Curlews at John o’ Gaunts (29th). Other waders included six Redshanks at Whetstone Gate (5th) and breeding Common Sandpipers was recorded at a various places including the Aire (16th), Ponden Reservoir (13th), Otley Wetland (11th), Upper and Lower Barden Reservoirs (9th).

Of the unusual and exotic, there was a Rose-ringed Parakeet in Saltaire (3rd), three Snipe flushed by a low flying Merlin at Glovershaw (11th) and the movement of 234 Swifts during the inclement conditions, seen by a member passing the moorland watch-point (23rd).

June was a predominantly dry and warm, with a hot spell at the beginning and end, and a cooler, cloudy period in between.

The month didn’t produce many notable sightings, but there was certainly lots of breeding activity throughout the area. Young Chiffchaffs and juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen in the Dob Park area; a post-breeding flock of over 100 young Starlings were at Trough Lane and a young Little Owl was by Dick Hudson’s. On the Wharfe, at Strid Wood, young Goosander and Mandarin Ducks and juvenile Tawny Owls were noted. At Stockbridge, juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers were also seen and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was very active, giving indications of breeding nearby. Another Lesser Spotted was reported from Bull Copy Wood near Hirstwood on the 25th.Redstarts were reported at nest sites in Strid Wood, Beverdyke and Dob Park and with juveniles in the John o’Gaunts area.

At Stockbridge members continued to report the presence of Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat and Strid Wood was the best site to locate Wood Warbler, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers. A Lesser Whitethroat was heard in full song at Raw Nook on the 3rd.Passage waders of interest included two Dunlin (3rd) at Otley Wetland and an adult Little Stint (9th) at the Member’s Only Reservoir Reserve. Oystercatchers were regularly seen in pairs at Weecher, Glovershaw, Leeshaw, Barden Reservoir, Hewenden and Doe Park.Male Yellowhammers were seen and heard at Sconce and Glovershaw, these being the only places within our area where they can be reliably located, and up to nine male Reed Buntings were heard on the moorland in this area. A post-breeding flock of 20 Lapwing had gathered at Glovershaw on the 24th where juvenile Lapwings were still present. On this day, a male Snipe was giving excellent views as it displayed over the moorland fringe.A small number of Stonechat were reported with males at Trough Lane and Leeshaw and a pair with two young birds were seen in the fields behind Golcar Farm, Glovershaw. A male Whinchat was also seen near Whetstone Gate (18th).

Nightjars were back on their usual territory with two males and a female being identified. Little Owls were prominent throughout this period with sightings reported from Weecher (two adults), Oxenhope (two adults), Trough Lane and Birkshead Mill, Wilsden. Twites could often be seen at Leeshaw Reservoir, with three being present on the 6th, and it was here that a Cuckoo was still calling (11th).At the end of the month, flocks of Gulls were increasing in number in the fields around Cullingworth and a juvenile female Common Scoter was present at Otley Wetland. The most bizarre of reports was of a Storm Petrel over Fewston Reservoir on the 22nd, this came via the Bird Guides website.

Butterflies reported included Painted Lady, Wall Brown, Green-veined White, Green Hairstreak, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Coma and from Baildon Bank lots of Purple Hairstreak. A member from Baildon reported a Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on Red Valerian on the 28th and 29th June.

Early reports in June showed that Spotted Flycatchers were in residence at St. Ives, and Otley Wetland Nature Reserve recorded Reed, Sedge and Garden Warblers. By the 8th at least four Reed Warblers were singing here. Pied Flycatchers were seen at two sites in the Aire Valley including Hirst Woods, where a pair were using a nest box. Members at Stockbridge again registered a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (5th) and an Osprey was continuing to frequent the Wharfe Valley with sightings throughout the month at Barden. Hewenden viaduct was worth a visit to see the nesting Swifts and Yellowhammer were breeding on Baildon Moor at three sites, including Sconce Lane. Breeding birds of prey were reported from around the area with Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Little Owl, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk Red Kite and Merlin all noted. Long-eared Owls have used hanging baskets for their breeding at two sites, and there are now at least ten pairs breeding in the BOG area. A ‘churring’ Nightjar had been located in the area.

A pair of Kingfishers bred near Doe Park and a juvenile Dipper was also noted there (18th), followed on the next day by a singing Grasshopper Warbler, the third such bird recorded in Airedale. A pair of Mandarin ducks was seen with young on the Wharfe and breeding Grey Wagtails were noted near Bingley. Stonechats were breeding at various locations including Haworth Moor, Cold Edge Dams and Glovershaw. Six drumming Snipe were countered at Whetstone Gate and Whinchat was also noted there. A single Osprey passed over Thornton Moor Reservoir (20th), and a Yellow-legged Gull was with 160 Lesser-blacks following the farmer’s tractor as he churned up the soil in fields around Cullingworth.The ringing event of the month occurred on the 19th when members caught 266 Sand Martins at their colony at Ben Rhydding, later a party of ringers descended on the breeding Black-headed Gulls at Upper Barden Reservoir, and ringed 450 chicks.

The most noteable visitor to the area was seen on the 21st when a Black Kite passed by the Barden Watchpoint in Wharfedale. This is the first ever recording of a Black Kite in the BOG area. It was obviously quite a day for these observers, as they witnessed two Hobbys and the passing of possibly two Ospreys. A Hobby was noted at Leeshaw on the 25th. Decreasing water levels in our reservoirs are beginning to bring in interesting birds. A Green Sandpiper was at Lindley on the 27th June.