Sightings

The month of May was generally dry, with some good sunshine, but a wind, sometimes quite strong at times accompanied by heavy showers was a feature of many days. On the 1st May, spring migration was well established with members reporting a good range of arrivals from many sites. In the Aire Valley, two Whitethroats were seen at St. Ives, and at Stockbridge and Marley, Grasshopper Warblers were present. The Private Wetland Site in Wharfedale had an impressive list on this day with Common and Arctic Terns, Yellow Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, eight Wheaters all noted amongst the many hirundines and warblers. Members were reporting Wheatears passing through the area with Trough Lane achieving the highest numbers, 22 seen on the 4th. From our Visible Migration site, 44 Wheatears passed through on the 2nd.

On the 2nd a Cuckoo was heard on Bingley Moor, and two male Yellowhammers had taken up position by Glovershaw Lane, also Snipe and Redshank were both present in this area. On the 3rd the most unlikely of events was the singing of a Lesser Whitethroat by the Magistrates Court in Bradford Centre, it was still there on 9th of the month.

A Whinchat was recorded at Stockbridge and Soil Hill (both 1st) and Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Wood Warbler had established breeding sites in Strid Woods.On the 6th a few Whimbrel had roosted in Wharfedale Wetlands, this was in common with some other areas in the North of England, over 200 were recorded at Wheldrake Ings, near York. By the 8th Spotted Flycatcher had been seen in St. Ives and the next day (9th) our only record of Dotterel came from High Brown Knoll (010304) where two were recorded. Also on this day Folly Hall Wood produced six male Pied Flycatchers and three Redstart, and smaller numbers of these birds were noted around the Swinsty area. A member watching Hebers Ghyll Wood had recorded up to four Wood Warblers and a Tree Pipit by the 15th. The 16th was an eventful day as birders watched an Osprey over Keighley and a House Martin colony had been established in the Birchlands area of Wilsden. On the 20th patience was rewarded with a view of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Knotford.Towards the end of the month members were watching the breeding sites of Long-eared Owl and Stonechat, where young birds were successfully fledged. Nightjar had returned to the area and two Ospreys stayed for a few days being seen regularly from Barden Scale. Woodcocks were active at St. Ives where four males performed their ‘roding’ display on the 31st.