The weather during March was significantly different from what had gone before. It was colder and wetter, with a northerly air-flow dominating the first three weeks giving biting winds and clear blue skies, before westerlies brought bouts of rain and wind during the last couple of weeks. There were two periods of snow that helped strengthen the feeling that this was probably the worst month of the winter.

The months’ birding report begins with a sighting of a Red Kite over Otley Town Centre (1st). Waxwings were seen throughout the month at Salts Mill, Saltaire with a high of 45 on the 28th, a flock of 25 were in Leonard Street, Bingley (25th) and a small flock of twelve were noted in Ilkley (15th).

A female Blackcap continued to frequent a Crossflatts garden, having over-wintered with the help of decaying apples. Stonechats were at Sandwith Moor (5th), St. Ives had a small flock of Siskin (5th), at Lindley Wood there was a Willow Tit (4th), Gallows Hill seven Redpoll (20th) and an observer at Queensbury found eleven Skylarks (9th) on the cricket pitch!

At Otley Wetland Nature Reserve over 350 Curlew had assembled (5th) together with over 40 Oystercatchers and a pair of Scaup and a male Gadwall visited on the 25th. Large numbers of Curlew were also present at Conningley Ings (16th), together with Redshank (11), Teal (37), Wigeon and Lapwing (108). Golden Plover numbers were particularly low this month, although a flock of 1200 was on the fields by Sandwith Moor (21st).

Visiting Gulls including a 2nd year Yellow-legged at Queensbury (25th) and two adult Mediterranean Gulls in breeding plumage on the flooded area near Silsden. There were very few reported sightings of yellow-billed swans, but at Silsden Reservoir ten Whoopers were there on 9th and at Lindley Wood Reservoir, two were present on the 23rd.

Certainly one of the highlights during March was the sight and sound of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers from two of our areas. Shipley Glen and a private site were the places to see a pair of these birds, calling and drumming and showing very well. On the Higher Coach Road, Baildon (31st), one male and two females were oberved.

The inclement weather no doubt delayed the onset of migration, but by the 29th, over 150 Sand Martins were using this site and sightings were reported from throughout Wharfedale. Swallows had also been seen in this area with two birds passing Barden Bridge on 30th. The first report of a Wheatear was from Whetstone Gate (23rd) and two days later, two Snow Buntings were spotted. A Marsh Harrier and an osprey flew over Fly Flatts (25th) and a passage that included 195 Meadow Pipits were counted in this area.

Widespread reports of Buzzard, Red Kite, Peregrine, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Raven, Sparrowhawk and Kestrels from many places made satisfactory reading as the month drew to a close.