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).