Welcome

Welcome to the Blog of the Bradford Ornithological Group (BOG). Here you will find information about the latest sightings, an archive of information and a gallery photos of the birds of this area of West Yorkshire, England. We are an active group dedicated to the study and conservation of birds within this region which is situated amongst the Pennines of Northern England.

Send your recent sightings and photographs to us at this address: recorder@bradfordbirding.org Please add us to your contacts.


Please note that all images remain the property of the photographer.

SWIFTs IN AIREDALE AND WHARFEDALE - TELL US IF THEY ARE BREEDING IN YOUR AREA.

CONTACT - recorder@bradfordbirding.org

Tuesday 27 February 2018

Tuesday 27th February 2018


Otley Wetland (in the snow) 
Recorded a respectable 55 species (53 seen), including c200 Wigeon, up to 10 Teal, pair Goosander, up to 4 Common Buzzards, c100 Lapwings, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Kingfisher, at least 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, around 16 Fieldfare, good numbers of Redwing, and half a dozen Lesser Redpoll. 
John Armstrong

Snowy scene in Upper Wharfedale  photos: Roger Nelson


Sunday 25 February 2018

Sunday 25 February 2018

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - Water Rail heard, 6 Reed Bunting, pair of Bullfinch plus two Long-tailed Tits. The birds were pulling spider's webs from between gaps in the wall. Also pulling strips of the raspberry canes & taking them into the gorse.
Shaun Radcliffe

Eldwick - Sherriff Lane
A mixed flock of thrushes feeding in a field consisted of 50 Redwing, 20 Fieldfare and three Mistle Thrush.  Whilst approaching Brackenhall Countryside Centre a raptor with a large white rump flew up from trees and flew towards Baildon.  I strongly suspect it was a Harris Hawk (an escapee!)
Paul King

Goit Stock Wood, Harden - Harris Hawk seen (see previous) plus 2 Dippers paired up.
Ian Skayman























Thursday 22 February 2018

Thursday 22 February2018

Lindley Wood Reservoir - 22 Whoopers trumpeting, 54 Oystercatchers in nearby field.
Knotford Nook - 2 Oystercatcher, 20 Goldeneye.
Paul Morris

Washburn area - 10 Red Kite, 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel plus the above Whoopers.
Dave Curran

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - 26 species recorded including Redpoll, Siskin, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting. Watched two pairs of Long-tailed Tits fighting at the feeder. No Little Egret but one was at Bingley Bog North this afternoon.
Shaun Radcliffe 

Tuesday 20 February 2018

Cononley Ings - 340 Curlew, 5 Shelduck, 5 Oystercatcher, Teal & Wigeon
Brian Vickers

Leeshaw - 900 Starling, 23 Golden Plover
Steve Parkes

Wednesday 21 February 2018

Wednesday 21st February 2018

Pennithorn Hill, Baildon
Sky larks have now returned to their breeding area.  Eight seen feeding on the Golf Course, with a couple taking to the air to sing.
Paul King

Monday 19 February 2018

Monday 19 February 2018

Aire Valley- flooded fields just north of Keighley, 2 Little Egrets seen in the evening.
Roger Wilkinson

Leeshaw Reservoir - Curlew, 2 Pinkfoot, 120+Lapwing, 8 Oystercatcher, pair of Goosander
good numbers of Greylag & Canada Geese
Steve Parkes.

Hirst Wood, Saltaire - plenty of Nuthatch calling, Song Thrush & Goldcrest singing. At 11.30 a flock of Whoopers flew low over going west. The weather was poor with drizzle & low cloud. The birds circled round & back over again so I could accurately count all 26 swans as they continued flying west, constantly calling.
Shaun Radcliffe

Sunday 18 February 2018

Sunday 18 February 2018

Worth Valley - 150 Pinkfoot flew west up the valley.
Steve parkes

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - Little Egret stayed for over two hours this morning. Other sighting - 6 Reed Bunting, Kestrel, Bullfinch, Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron.
Shaun Radcliffe

Saturday 17 February 2018

Saturday 17 February 2018

Hawksworth - 4 Crossbill over.
Roger Wilkinson

Marsh/ Upper Marsh, Oxenhope - 128 Greylag, 2 Pinkfoot, single Barnacle, Fieldfare flocks of 20 & 30 birds. Pair of Mistle Thrush, 4 Lapwing, early on site.
Steve Parkes

Bingley Bog North - this afternoon, Little Egret feeding in the small wetland.
ShaunRadcliffe

Friday 16 February 2018

Friday 16 February 2018

Silsden/ Keighley By-pass - 72 Curlew, 7 Oystercatchers.
Brian Vickers

Private Wetlands (permit holders only) - 12 Goldeneye, 15 Tufted, 40 Wigeon, Little Grebe, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk.
Shaun Radcliffe

Thursday 15 February 2018

Thursday 15th February 2018

Osprey in the Gambia
Now for something completely different!
Member Keith Allen took this photo whilst holidaying in The Gambia in January.  As you see the bird is carrying a leg ring.  Much to everyone's surprise the ring was applied when the bird was a chick in a brood of three at a site near Ardfern, Argyll, Scotland on 10th July 2013.

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Leeshaw Reservoir - 115 Greylag, 38 Canada, single Barnacle Goose, Fieldfare, Redwing & Mistle Thrush.
Brian Vickers

Sunday 11 February 2018

Sunday 11 February 2018

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - superb views of Little Egret as it fed behind the willows in front of the hide. The typical shifting of the feet was observed with the bird staying for about 15 minutes. Also seen 4 Oystercatchers, GSW, 5 Reed Bunting.
Shaun Radcliffe

Thursday 8 February 2018

Thursday 8 February 2018

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - 26 species recorded in the two hours including 5 Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Siskin, Bullfinch, Jay, single Snipe flushed plus Water Rail heard very briefly.
Shaun Radcliffe

Monday 5 February 2018

Sunday 4 February 2018

Oxenhope - 130 Fieldfare over at 13.30
Howard Creber

Ilkley Cemetery - single Hawfinch, 12 Greenfinch, 3 Goldcrest
Shaun Pickard

Silsden Reservoir - 61 Tufted Duck, single Goldeneye
Chelker Reservoir - 4 Goldeneye, 6 Oystercatchers, 50 Greylag, 2 Pinkfoot
Barden Scale - 100+  Golden Plover
Brian Vickers

Bingley Bog North - Little Egret, Kestrel, GSW, 2 Nuthatch, Kingfisher.
Phil Matthews (Egret also seen by Martyn Priestley)
Little Egret at Bingley North Bog                           photo: Phil Matthews

Friday 2 February 2018

Friday 2 February 2018

Dowley Gap S W  - Chiff-Chaff
R Aire above Hirst Weir - 2 Little Grebe, 4 Grey Heron in nearby fields, 2 pair of Goosander
Hirst Wood - GSW drumming, 2 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Treecreeper. Also a few winter thrushes in Coach Road.
Bingley Bog North - pair of Teal
Bingley Bog South - 2 male Teal
Shaun Radcliffe & Paul King

Thursday 1 February 2018

Thursday 1 February 2018

Ilkley Cemetery - Hawfinch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Greenfinch, Nuthatch.
Howard Creber

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - Water Rail heard, Kestrel, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting. 
Shaun Radcliffe