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

Friday 28 February 2020

Friday 28th February 2020

Oakworth Moor
A flock of 55 Whooper Swans flew over Tewitt Farm and went NW over Keighley Moor.
photo and report James Longbottom

Crossflatts - flock of Waxwings still at the station - seen at noon today.
Shaun Radcliffe

Thursday 27 February 2020

Thursday 27th February 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
An afternoon visit produced the following:
276 Greylag Geese, 113 Canada Geese, 84 Golden Plover, 33 Curlew, 15 Oystercatcher, several Lapwings, about 300 Starlings, a flock of about 100 Fieldfares and Redwings (75% Fieldfares), a pair of Teal, a pair of Goosander and three Herring Gulls.


Curlews, Oystercatchers and thrushes all featured in an afternoon's birding.
Brian Sumner                                                                                      more on Brian's blog

Wednesday 26 February 2020

Wednesday 26th February 2020

Crossflatts station
9am - A flock of Waxwings were still present feeding on hawthorn berries by the down platform exit.
12.30pm - 10 Waxwings and three Redwings were present.

One of ten Waxwings at Crossflatts Railway station.                photos: Steve Meredith 

Cottingley Wood
Two Woodcock flushed from young plantation.
Mark Scrimshaw
              


Tuesday 25 February 2020

Tuesday 25 February 2020

Crossflatts Railway Station - at 16.00 a flock of 15 Waxwings feeding on berries. Not many berries left, the trees next to the car park. There are some more berries at the grammar school nearby.
Shaun Radcliffe

Monday 24 February 2020

Monday 24th February 2020

Yeadon Tarn
Five Pochards (four males and a female), a male Shoveler and a pair of Goosander.
Andy Jowett

Ogden Reservoir
A pair of Goosanders on the reservoir and in the plantation a large 'tit' flock, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, eight Treecreepers along with a Jay.
Brian Sumner                                        more on Brian's blog


Low Utley
Six Curlews flew west over the village.
Josh Selfe

Manningham Park, Bradford
Two Coot nests established.
Joy Leach

Sunday 23 February 2020

Sunday 23rd February 2020

Otley Wetland Nature Reserve
Two Gadwall, 24 Goldeneye, 120 Wigeon, 26 Tufted Duck, 22 Oystercatchers.
Andy Jowett

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - Tree Sparrow at feeder, Water Rail heard, Reed Buntings, 3 Curlew & 5 Lapwing flew up the valley during heavy rain.
Shaun Radcliffe

Heights Lane & Eldwick Reservoir
A flock of seven Long-tailed Tits, a Little Owl, five Curlews, a male Merlin, a Kestrel, an Oystercatcher, six Fieldfares and both Song and Mistle Thrush were seen in the area.
A Little Owl on Heights Lane


A male Pheasant, a regular to Phil's garden
photos and report from Phil Matthews.

Saturday 22nd February 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
In the afternoon gale there was a good movement westwards.  These consisted of 68 Curlew (two present), 248 Lapwing (several present) and 59 Oystercatchers (12 present).

Photos showing the movement of Curlews and Oystercatchers at Leeshaw.
More can be seen on Brian's blog.

Friday 21st February 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
18 Golden Plovers in field with about 40 Lapwings.  Nine separate Curlews flew west in addition to two present.  There were 8 Oystercatchers and a flock of 150 Fieldfares.  Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls were also in the area.

Ogden Reservoir
Three Goosanders (two females and one male), also two Song Thrush.
Brian Sumner

Saturday 22 February 2020

Thursday 20th February 2020

East Morton
At Street Lane (Whetstone turn off) - about 50 Brambling in the area of trees and bushes.
Theo Kuechel

Thursday 20 February 2020

Wednesday 19th February 2020

Waxwings in Keighley
The Waxwings at the top of Westfell Lane have been giving excellent views.
See more on Brian's website

Tuesday 18 February 2020

Tuesday 18th February 2020

Keighley (Westfell Road)
15 Waxwing still present at Westfell Road and were seen most of the day even in poor conditions.
Steve Parkes
Waxwing                                       Photo: Keith Allen
Riddlesden Garden
Pair of Brambling

M Doveston





Monday 17 February 2020

Monday 17 February 2020

Wagon Lane stretch of River Aire - with the river in flood, 70 Pied Wagtails counted on the rugby pitches plus 2 Oystercatchers & a pair of Goosanders sitting it out.
Shaun Radcliffe

Sunday 16 February 2020

Sunday 16th February 2020

Keighley (Westfell Road)
The flock of 15 Waxwings have been seen throughout the day in Westfell Road, Keighley.

Bingley Bog North & Five Rise Locks

Steve Meredith

Apperley Bridge to Esholt
A couple of Oystercatchers have returned to the area, three Mistle Thrushes were singing, a pair of Bullfinch and over 25 Goldfinch were seen whilst a Sparrowhawk spooked a flock of Long-tailed Tits.  The high winds have disrupted Rooks and their nest building attempts, but a couple of Jays and a Heron were feeding and a Teal could be heard.
Damian Pearson

A629 flooded fields
1000s of Black-headed Gulls, 200+Common Gull
50+Lapwing, 12 Herring Gulls
M Doveston


Saturday 15th February 2020

Keighley
A flock of 16 Waxwings were reported at the top of Westfell Road.
What's App

Yeadon Tarn
Five Pochards (four drakes), a male Shoveler, two Oystercatchers, three Goosanders and a Snipe at the northern end.
Jeremy Taylor

Thursday 13 February 2020

Thursday 13th February 2020

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) -  2 Water Rail heard, Tree Sparrow, Jay, Reed Bunting plus Oystercatcher flying up the valley.
Shaun Radcliffe

This winter, Blackcaps have been reported visiting gardens in our recording area, particularly in Wharfedale and Airedale.  The BTO have an explanation which you may find interesting. Click here.

Wednesday 12th February 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
Five Oystercatchers, two Meadow Pipits, big numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare and Starling. An intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull flew west during observations.



Ogden Reservoir
A flock of over 30 Siskin and a pair of Goosander.  A large tit flock plus Goldcrest and Treecreeper.
Photos and Report from Brian Sumner                                          Brian's website

Coppice Pond, St. Ives and Cullingworth
A Kingfisher at Coppice Pond and at Cullingworth by the War Memorial was a leucistic Blackbird.
Alan Buckley

Tuesday 11 February 2020

Monday 10th February 2020

Ben Rhydding
A female Blackcap visited a garden feeder and a small number of House Sparrows (a rarity here) have also taken advantage.
Blackcap (female)                            Andrew Bennet
Barn Owls
Barn Owls                                     photo: Penny French




Saturday 8 February 2020

Saturday 8th February 2020

Otley Wetland NR
A female Smew (redhead) amongst the Goldeneyes.  Also a Great Crested Grebe, two Grey Herons, three Common Buzzards, a Red Kite, a Kestrel, 150+ Lapwings, 3 Stock Doves, c20 Redwings and at least 8 Bullfinch.
John Armstrong

Glovershaw
In Golcar Fields and surrounding moorland there were 50+ Fieldfares, over 50 Lapwings, a Curlew and six Reed Buntings.  150 Greylags had been joined by three Canada Geese and a Red Kite and a Common Buzzard flew over.
Steve Meredith

Hope Hill, Baildon
At Dobrudden Farm, seven Tree Sparrows were on the feeders.
Paul King

North Bog, Bingley
17 Snipe were present in the boggy area.
Jon Middleton

Redcar Tarn
The Iceland Gull and 1st year Caspian Gull were present this afternoon.
Michael Bloomfield

Friday 7 February 2020

Friday 7th February 2020

Glovershaw, Baildon
Feeding on the 14th fairway and 6th green were the following newly returned birds: 9 Skylarks, 3 Reed Buntings and a couple of Meadow Pipits.  In Golcar Farm Fields, five Golden Plovers landed and six Lapwings were new arrivals.  150 Greylag Geese were busily feeding.
Paul King.

Tong Park, Baildon -  4 Goosander, 30 Redwing
Baildon Village by cattle grid - pair of Stonechat
Whetstone Gate - Kestrel, Red Kite, Buzzard, flock of 30 Lapwing, 20 Redwing
Shaun Radcliffe

Leeshaw Reservoir
A skein of 320 Pink-footed Geese flew NW during the afternoon.  A single Pink-footed Goose was with a flock of 137 Greylag Geese and newly returned species included a single Curlew, five Oystercatchers and five pairs of Goosander.
Brian Sumner                                                         Brian's website.
A Pink-footed Goose at Leeshaw Reservoir        photo: Brian Sumner




Thursday 6 February 2020

Thursday 6th February 2020

Dowley Gap
50 to 60 Pied Wagtails, 20 Magpies and four Goldcrest in bushes, seen from the aqueduct
River at Hirstwood
Two pairs of Goosander, a pair of Grey Wagtail, 40 Greylags and 38 Canada Geese.
Shipley Glen
A pair of Dippers on the beck.
Paul King

Denso Marston Reserve, Baildon
Seven Common Buzzards - six of which were together moving west. Also a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, four Goosander and a Grey Wagtail.  Also lots of Goldcrests.
Jeremy Taylor

Guiseley
A skein of 200 Pink-footed Geese flew west at noon.
Darren Shepherd

Yeadon Tarn
Five Pochards on the tarn.
Theo Kuechel

Wednesday 5 February 2020

Wednesday 5th February 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
A Curlew and two Oystercatchers are recent arrivals, whilst 18 Herring Gulls and two drake Tufted Ducks (uncommon for here) were also present.  A skein of 117 Pink-footed Geese went west.
Brian Sumner                                                                                                        Brian's website

A skein of Pink-footed Geese flying west and a returning Curlew at Leeshaw       photos: Brian Sumner
Hope Hill, Baildon Moor
A flock of 40 Golden Plovers flew over and two Skylarks and a single Lapwing were new arrivals.  Four Tree Sparrows were visible in the hedges around Dobrudden Farm.
Paul King

Tuesday 4 February 2020

Tuesday 4th February 2020

Ben Rhydding, Ilkley
A male Blackcap in Ben a Rhydding garden.

Photos and sighting from Alison Bennett

Otley
A female Blackcap feeding on a fat ball in the garden.
Theo Kuechel


Monday 3 February 2020

Monday 3 February 2020

Low Snowdon - flock of 50 ground feeding Fieldfare
Denton - 130 Curlew flock plus another 80 birds in a nearby flooded field.
Shaun Radcliffe

Sunday 2 February 2020

Sunday 2nd February 2020

Yeadon Tarn
3 Pochard (2 males and a female), 15 Tufted Duck and 10 Mute Swans
Paul King

Saturday 1st February 2020

Strid Wood
A mixed flock of Brambling and Chaffinch remain in the area between the Strid and the stone shelter.
John Brooks

Leeshaw Reservoir
The first Curlew and a couple of Oystercatchers have returned to their breeding areas.
Brian Sumner                                                                   more on Brian's website

Saturday 1 February 2020

Friday 31st January 2020

Redcar Tarn, Keighley
Both Caspian Gulls and the Iceland Gull were at the Tarn, as well as this splendid adult Yellow-legged Gull.
An adult Yellow-legged Gull on the left                                 photo: Keith Moir
The Iceland Gull was also at Cullingworth Fields on the 29th (there is nothing to suggest it was a different bird).
Keith Moir