January was generally a cloudy month with heavy rain during the first two weeks and strong winds and wintery weather at the end, making birding rather difficult.

However, there were one or two highlights, and pride of place must go to a Siberian White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), which could be seen in the Oxenhope area with a flock of Greylags, and also a Glaucous Gull which joined the ‘throng’ on Cullingworth Fields. The White-fronted Goose was present from the 6th to the 15th and the Glaucous Gull, first seen on the 8th, remained in the area for another two or three days. A male Scaup was present throughout the month at the private wetland site in Wharfedale and a Black-necked Grebe was reported from here on the 17th.

The flooded fields in the Aire Valley provided birders with the opportunity of seeing wintering ducks, and they were present in reasonable numbers during the first couple of weeks. Over 80 Teal were counted on the expanse of water at Cononley Ings (4th) and another 43 were seen further west on the flooded fields at Silsden. Two days later the number of Teal at Cononley had risen to 157. During the month a build-up of Wigeon took place on these fields and by the 27th, 48 had been identified. These ducks were also seen, but in much smaller numbers, at Redcar Tarn, Lindlley Reservoir, Knotford Nook and the private wetland in Wharfedale. Four Pintails were briefly present at Cononley (19th), but Shovelers stayed a bit longer with a maximum of seven noted on the 24th. Only very small numbers of Pochard were reported, with the red-crested species being seen on a few occasions at the private wetland site in Wharfedale. Goldeneye, although regularly seen around the area, were present in the largest number here and at Cononley, where 15 had gathered (23rd).

Big flocks of Lapwings gathered at Redcar Tarn, Cullingworth, in the Wharfe Valley, at Cononley Ings where over 700 were countered (4th), and at Denton Hall where up to a 1000 were present (27th). Two Redshanks were seen at Cononley Ings (6th), a female Shoveler was noted on Tong Park Lake (12th), as many as 12 Grey Herons were roosting in Shipley Glen and up to five Herring Gulls were amongst other gulls gathered on Cullingworth Fields. A nice flock of over 70 Siskins was reported from Caldene Fields (6th) and a Riddlesden garden was graced by the presence of two female Blackcaps (4th).

By the end of the month Pink-footed Geese were seen overhead, the 28th being an outstanding day with many members reporting skeins crossing the area from east to west. A skein of 300, seen in South Bradford, was also picked up over Cottingley, a skein of 110 was watched, at two points, moving down the Aire Valley and a third, of 130, was reported near Addingham.