Flocks of Waxwings were reported from various places during the month. The first sighting was in the regular spot of Ilkley Car Park (10th) where a small group of six birds were noted. By the 16th members’ reported a flock of 85 going to roost at Timble Ings with larger daily groups seen at Ilkley (43 on the 18th), and from the 23rd, small flocks were along the canal at East Morton. It was here that numbers reached 35 (29th), and on the same day, a flock of 20 by Crossflatts railway station.

Pink-footed Geese continued to move through the area on their way to their wintering ground on the west coast. At the moorland watch-point 290 passed over (8th), followed the next day by 600 (in five skeins) over Sandwith Moor and 850 over south Bradford. There were further small skeins before another 690 were noted over the moorland watch-point (16th).

Seven Whooper Swans were seen on Lower Laithe Reservoir (14th) and two days later a similar number were present on Chelker Reservoir. During this time, a couple of Whoopers had visited Leeshaw Reservoir and others were seen flying over Silsden, and seventeen passed over Caldene Fields (21st).

Following recent trends, only low numbers of ducks were recorded, the most notable being a flock of 30 Wigeon which were first seen at Knotford (14th) and again at the nearby private wetland site towards the end of the month. Small numbers of Goldeneye were seen in this area and over 30 Teal were at Cononley Ings during the time when water levels were at their highest.

Swallows lingered until very late with five recorded feeding over Dowley Gap (5th) and a single bird was near March Cote Farm, Cottingley on the 23rd. A possible over-wintering Chiffchaff near Dowley Gap (12th), an unusual Marsh Tit at Beaverdyke, a Firecrest in shrubs near East Riddlesden Hall and occasional sightings of Snow Buntings in the south of the area were the pick of the passerines.

The large influx of winter thrushes was completed by the middle of the month with 1265 Fieldfare and 900 Redwing passing Caldene Fields (13th). It was at this migration watch-point that the observers noted an astonishing 2794 Wood Pigeons, earlier, a wintering flock of 432 Golden Plovers passed over (9th).

A flock of 150 Curlews were to be seen in the Denton Park/Ben Rhydding area, over 20 Grey Herons regularly roosted at the bottom of Shipley Glen and three Water Rails were established at Stockbridge.