An influx of Snipe in the early days of September.
Photo: Brian Vickers ©
Much of September was dominated by a westerly airflow and not until the last few days did high pressure establish itself over Scandinavia and the winds move to a more northerly direction.
The month opened with the sighting of a small flock of Crossbills on Otley Chevin (2nd). Two days later (4th) a flock of 17 Snipe were recorded at Kex Gill, this links with the news that at Blacktoft Sands on the 3rd a flock of 250 were recorded. Certain species could be found in increasing numbers with 137 Coot at Knotford and 350 Lapwing at Silsden Floods. A family party of four Spotted Flycatchers was in the Askwith area. Raptor numbers in the Wharfe Valley were beginning to improve with a high of three Red Kites (5th). St. Ives had a Redpoll on this date and two female Pintails were seen briefly on the Lindley Wood Reservoir. A Daubenton's Bat was by the bridge over the Wharfe at Otley, in full daylight at 3 pm, appearing to drink from the river - it was 27 degrees at the time. Throstle Nest Farm, Otley, had a Tree Sparrow (7th) and a Chiffchaff was singing from a Queensbury Garden. The following day our highest village had three calling Oystercatcher at 21.40. A family of four Stonechats was observed moving along the moorland wall Glovershaw Lane, Baildon (8th) together with a male Wheatear and another pair of Stonechat.
Interesting observations on the 9th included a first winter Black Tern at Otley Wetlands in common with a small influx of this species into the country, a Pied Flycatcher at Paul Clough and an early Redwing overhead in Wilsden at 6.20am! 52 Tufted Duck were counted on Fewston (18th) where numbers have remained good for some time and the Whooper Swan was still present also. Over 300 House Martins were feeding over Lindley Reservoir. A Red-throated Diver was noted at the dam end on Fewston (21st) and an albino hirundine flew by Bolton Priory on the 22nd. Pink-footed Geese were in evidence by the 26th, with 13 at Fewston and 30 flying over Queensbury and calling at 11.55pm! The national picture showed that good numbers of Pink-footed Geese were on the move with Barnacle Geese moving along the northeast coast. Chelker had a Rock Pipit on this day, Stockbridge two Kingfishers and a Water Rail and observers in the Wharfe Valley reported a female Hen Harrier and at least seven Buzzards. One of the more unusual records included a Gadwall on Lister Park boating lake (27th) and by the 28th juvenile Red Kites were seen over the dales. The month ended (30th) with Redwing calling from a Queensbury garden and a family party of Stonechat at Whetstone Gate.