May was mostly dry and warm, a perfect time for breeding birds, with only a small amount rain towards the end of the month.

May is probably the best month for birding with the arrival of summer migrants and the passing of unusual birds. Anything can ‘turn up’ and this month there were a few interesting reports, most notably a pair of Great Grey Shrikes, located at Drop Farm, near Leeshaw Res (4th), a Black Tern, that stayed all morning at the private wetland site (6th) and a first year Bluethroat that made a brief appearance at our Members’ Only Reservoir on 23rd. A most unusual visitor to an Ilkley garden was a Turtle Dove (6th). Raptors passing through the area included a female Marsh Harrier at the private wetland site (7th), two Ospreys seen in the Wharfe Valley (17th & 18th), a Hen Harrier at the moorland watch-point (10th), a Hobby at Snaygill Ings (3rd) and another at Barden Bridge (10th). At the end of the month a singing Lesser Whitethroat was located on the river bank to the west of Silsden, and unusual flocks of Crossbills of up to 23 birds were reported from Rivock Edge (21st), the private wetland site (26th) and Timble Ings (30th).

A pair of Little Ringed Plover could still be seen alongside the A650, and others were seen moving through the Members’ Only Reservoir (4th & 18th) and in the Washburn (12th). At the former location a Turnstone was seen (5th), and together with nearby Fly Flatts, Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover had all been reported at various times. A single Whimbrel flew over this area (3rd) and on the same day one passed Timble Ings. There were many reports of very active and vocal Common Sandpipers along our rivers and reservoirs.

The summer migrants are now in residence with numerous reports from around the region, illustrating the full extent of the influx. Up to ten singing male Pied Flycatchers could be heard in Strid Wood (4th) and four at Folly Hall Wood (2nd) where six male Redstarts had taken up residency. Garden Warblers appeared to be very prominent in the early part of the month, nine were heard between Lindley Wood and Folly Hall Wood and at other spots in the Washburn and Wharfedale Valleys. One of the best places to see Tree Pipits was at Stainburn Plantation, Timble Ings and Rivock Edge. Spotted Flycatcher was reported from Lindley Wood, St. Ives, Strid Wood and Low Wood near Riddlesden. A Grasshopper Warbler ‘reeled’ regularly at Stocksbridge Reserve (1st to 14th), but there were few reports of Wood Warbler only a single bird at Strid Wood (3rd), and another at Shibden Head (5th). However, Whitethroats were more numerous with a number being identified at a variety of places.

Wheatears continued to pass through the area up and to about 10th with a notable 16 at the Members’ Only Reservoir (5th). Whinchats also moved through with about eight birds reported in the south of the area. A pair of Ring Ouzels were seen in Ponden Clough (10th) and a single bird flew through the moorland watch-point (5th), whilst two Yellow Wagtails were located here five days later and a single bird was at nearby Fly Flatts (5th). Cuckoo were heard at six locations with the most interesting being a bird at Whetstone Gate (22nd) which was mobbed by a Meadow Pipit!

The Coppice Pond at St. Ives had its first breeding record of Goosanders when a female was seen with 13 duckings and other heavily burdened females were seen at Ben Rhydding (10th) and on the River Aire at East Riddlesden (24th). Of other breeding birds, an early Lapwing chick was noted at Bradup (10th) and the breeding pair of Peregrines were in residence in Keighley.

Of the duck species seen locally, a male Garganey and a male Red-crested Pochard, both at the private wetland site (4th), and four Shovelers at Redcar Tarn (30th), were the few highlights.

A Barnacle Goose dropped into Stockbridge (10th) and another, or perhaps the same bird, was seen twice at the private wetlands (10th & 14th) and a Pink-footed Goose was seen in St. Ives on the Coppice Pond (24th).