January was a fairly mild, dry month with very little precipitation and some night frost. There were no major storms and winds were generally light.

Small flocks of Waxwings were seen along the by-pass at Burley-in-Wharfedale, where they stayed for most of the month. An Eldwick garden had 18 gorging on a decorative shrub (12th&13th) and at Salts Mill a member saw a flock of 40 (11th). Duck numbers were generally modest with 20 Goldeneye and 31 Tufted at Knotford (2nd) and similar numbers at Otley Wetland. A pair of Gadwall was at Knotford on the 4th where Tufted Duck numbers had risen to 62. The female Scaup, first seen during December at Otley Wetland had moved onto Knotford (4th). Approximately 400 to 500 Lapwings were noted at Bowling Back Lane near Wakefield Road, Bradford on the 16th, with 120 at Redcar Tarn. Nine Oystercatchers had returned to the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey (19th) and Curlew numbers at Denton were beginning to grow with 50 there on the 29th. 230 Pink-footed Geese, in three groups, passed over Barden on the 12th, 80 passed over Knotford on the 18th and the next day 60 were seen flying west over Oxenhope. On the 22nd 450 passed over Wilsden in three skeins. Nine Goosanders on the River Aire (15th) were possibly the same birds that were seen coming into roost on Graincliffe Reservoir four days later. Red Kites were regularly seen within the Wharfe and Washburn Valleys and a count of seven buzzards was registered on the 22nd from the Barden watchpoint. Over 3000 gulls (50/50 Black-headed and Common) had assembled to roost at Birdholme (28th). Crossbills were present in small numbers within Timble Forest and at the north end of Fewston Reservoir. The largest number of visiting Snow Buntings was seen on Soil Hill (14th) where eight were recorded. Good flocks of Siskin and small numbers Redpoll were reported from around the area, and a high of 300 Fieldfare in Birch Close (14th) and 80 Redwing were noted in the fields around Shipley Glen.

Two Water Rails were regularly seen and even photographed at Stockbridge and Three Woodcocks were counted at Timble (1st and 28th). A Greater Black-backed Gull was on the wet area below Dick Hudson’s (2nd) and two Dippers were seen on the River Aire (15th) at Myrtle Park. The elusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was watched at Bolton Bridge on the 18th, where a member was lucky to see two birds. Other unusual reports featured a Ring-necked Parakeet in Shipley (2nd), a Water Pipit at Marley Sewage Works (22nd) and a Peregrine Falcon, which flying over the Keighley by-pass (24th). A female Blackcap was regularly appearing in Shaun’s garden at Crossflatts, feeding on the rotting apples he left for it.
A Song Thrush was singing at Stockbridge on the 22nd, Goldeneyes were displaying at Knotford and a Bar-tailed Godwit was negotiating the fog at Otley Wetland on the 22nd.