January was again a very mild month, but with strong, and at times gale force winds dominating the weather until a short cold spell from the 21st onwards. This led to a quieter, milder period of pleasant temperatures at the month’s end.

The major interest was centred on the appearance of an American Robin, identified for the first time on the 23rd in a garden in Primrose Lane, Gilstead. It brought national attention to the BOG area and many hundreds of birders came from around the country to view a ‘first for Yorkshire’. This auspicious event was further enhanced by the presence of a wintering Firecrest at nearby Dowley Gap Sewage Works, the first such bird for four years. If this wasn’t enough to satisfy our lust for the exotic, there was a Shore Lark on Swales Moor Lane, Queensbury, a bird that was content to make an extended stay.

Brambling were seen in small numbers at a wide variety of places, but the highest counts were 20 at Redcar Lane Steeton (6th), 30 at Street Lane, Riddlesden (8th &16th), 17 at Bolton Abbey (16th) and 30 at Whitefield Farm, Steeton (20th). Very few flocks of Siskin were reported, with the best being over 100 birds in the area of Hirst Wood and Dowley Gap (1st). There was a flock of 60 at Stockbridge (7th) and a much smaller group of 20 near Tong Park Lake (14th).

Watching for wintering gulls can be most rewarding and those with an eye for the unusual were able to confirm an adult Mediterranean Gull on Cullingworth Fields at the beginning of the month. Also at this location were twelve Great Black-backed Gulls and three Herring Gulls of the genus agrentatus. There were a reported 800 Black-headed Gulls here on the 21st and over a 1000 on the flooded fields at Silsden on the same day.

Five Whooper Swans on Fly Flatts (5th) constituted the only report of wintering Swans, but Pink-footed Geese continued to attract attention as they flew in formation towards the north-west. Four skeins totalling over 800 graced the skies over Queensbury (14th), but the only bird seen on the ground was a single goose at Yeadon Tarn (12th).
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Duck numbers were disappointing, with up to eight Pochards at Yeadon Tarn (22nd), and the best of the Tufted Ducks were 28 at Redcar Tarn (6th) and at Knotford Nook (3rd) and 24 at Otley Wetland (15th). Goldeneyes were seen in small numbers at a few places with Otley Wetland accommodating fifteen, mostly females birds (12th), and at nearby Knotford there were seven (3rd). Wigeon were present in small numbers at Knotford Nook, 16 on the 15th, there were also 18 at Cononley Ings (20th) and eight at Otley Wetland (15th). The highlights were undoubtedly seven Pintails on Silsden Reservoir (14th), three Gadwall at Knotford Nook (15th) and a male Shoveler on the lake at Tong Park (21st).

Goosanders were turning up on quite a few waterways and lakes, with perhaps the most notable being 18 on Wibsey Park Lake (21st). The swollen River Aire was making life hard for the local flock of Grey Herons with a high of 20 noted feeding and resting at the bottom of Shipley Glen (14th). Stockbridge held on to three Water Rails, and a Green Sandpiper visited the Reserve on the 3rd.

Winter Thrushes were frequently reported, but only in relatively small numbers, with about 100 Redwing seen at Knotford Nook (15th), Dowley Gap (6th) and Bolton Abbey (19th). A larger flock of 150 was in the John o’ Gaunts area (26th) together with approximately 50 Fieldfare which has been about the usual number for these birds excepting the 150 seen near Cringles on the 14th.

A few members have reported wintering Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and there has been the regular sighting of a Jack Snipe on Soil Hill (16th). Reported only to Bird Guides, a Leach's Petrel seen at Fewston on the 3rd seems a bit implausible, but then, who would have imagined an American Robin in Bingley!