September began as August ended with a continuation of the unsettled period of weather and only during the third week was there a dry spell. The migration of birds, however, was very well recorded with the keenest of birders braving the inclement weather to communicate the news through the pages of the ‘daily blog’.

The passage of migrating and visiting birds of prey was again well reported with Ospreys seen from the Wharfedale watch-point on eight occasions and another passed over the south of the area (7th). Hobbies were occasionally reported in the area, one was seen sitting on a fence post on Weston Moor (8th), on the same day one briefly visited the moorland watch-point, five days later another bird was catching dragonflies at Barden Bridge and yet another was hunting over Soil Hill (20th & 23rd). Merlins appeared at the moorland watch-point (7th), at Denholme Clough (23rd & 27th) and the Wharfedale watch-point (20th) where a Marsh Harrier had been sighted on the 10th and Hen Harriers (23rd & 27th). The highlight for observers at this point was undoubtedly a Honey Buzzard which was seen going to a roost on the 17th, and it was again reported the following day when a Wryneck was seen flying past.

Three Shelduck were recorded at the moorland watch-point (12th), on the previous day, in the Aire Valley at Cononley, up to four (11th) birds were seen and also two Common Scoter. It was in this area that a Wood Sandpiper was reported (7th) in addition to two Green Sandpipers, which had also been seen in August, and a Greenshank was on Doe Park Reservoir (21st). There were two sightings of Grey Plover at Kex Gill (8th) and another, seen flying overhead, by a member at High Moor Plantation.

Four of our vis-mig watchpoints recorded skeins of Pink-footed Geese overhead, several groups were seen totalling over 600 geese (28th). Short-eared Owls were seen hunting at Leeshaw (1st) and in the Beamsley/Middleton Moor area (14th)

About 100 Wheatears passed through the area, and from numerous locations, Stonechats and Whinchats were reported, with the Oxenhope area in the south, Glovershaw, Whetstone Gate and Barden, in the north, being the most likely places to see these birds.

Another Bluethroat was reported in our area, the second this year, this time at Snaygill (27th) where a juvenile bird was seen. A juvenile Ring Ouzel was feeding on Barden Moor (12th), a Red crested Pochard flew onto Yeadon Tarn (18th) and a Reed Warbler visited Stockbridge (25th).

Small flocks of Crossbills were seen at various places including Paul Clough (2nd), Denholme Clough (28th) and on the western edge of Rombalds Moor (26th). Early in the month, good flocks of Siskin were located at Paul Clough and Sconce Lane, and later nearly 200 flew over the moorland watch-point (23rd) and a further harbinger of winter came in the form of two Redwing at Stockbridge (17th).

Over 4500 hirundines moved through the area on the 12th to the 14th and Meadow Pipit numbers were gathering pace with large totals of up to 830 (15th) seen from the moorland watch-points.