First sighting of Wheatear was on the 19th March at Trough Lane and Castle Carr Road. Photo by Brian Vickers ©

The early part of March had north westerlies and was accompanied by frequent snow showers across the region with slight accumulations forming. Two Black Swans found their way into Myrtle Park, Bingley (1st) and the Bean Goose was still at Leeshaw. Skylarks were returning to their upland breeding areas with seven recorded at Leeshaw (3rd) and ten at Soil Hill (9th). It seems that Manningham Park Bradford can turn up interesting birds with 24 Goosander and a Gadwall seen there early morning on the 5th. Reports of Common Buzzard were made from throughout the region and Red Kites were consistently seen away from their usual area during this period. Waxing continued to turn up in small flocks, twenty at Otley (12th), forty on Sunbridge Road and twenty-five by the College (15th). Three Sand Martins were noted in Wharfedale (17th). On the 19th the ‘metal-pecker’ was drumming in St. Ives, four Twite were at Leeshaw, 35 Goldeneye at the Wharfedale Wetland Site and Wheatears were noted at Trough Lane and Castle Carr Road.

The first reported Swallow was seen on the 20th. The following day twenty-four Whoopers were seen at Lower Laithe Reservoir. Little Ringed Plover appeared at a Sewage Farm in the Aire Valley and the following day Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Water Rail were noted. By the 23rd six Wheatear were at Trough Lane and Chiffchaff were singing throughout the area. A flock of 3000 Golden Plover had assembled on Sandwith Moor (25th), and a smaller, if not insignificant group of 200 were behind Golcar Farm, Baildon (26th). Sand Martin numbers had increased by the 28th when over 60 were noted at Knotford. On the 29th over 8000 Golden Plover had assembled in roadside fields on Sandwith Moor and on Bingley Moor (Thimble Stones) a male Whinchat was spotted. From the south of the region around the reservoirs at Cold Edge, Leeshaw and Fly Flats came reports of small numbers of Twite, Linnet and a single Short-eared Owl. Leeshaw had a high of 19 Twite on the 30th and the month ended, in very poor overhead conditions, with over 100 Sand Martin and 5 Tree Sparrows at Knotford Nook.