Thursday 30th April 2020

Glovershaw
7.30am - Five Wheatears and a single female Whinchat, on and around the 11th fairway.
Paul King

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Five Dunlin, three Common Sandpiper, two Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, two Oystercatchers and a Wheatear.  A Lapwing was seen with four chicks and 147 big gulls were in the area, most of them Herrings.
Brian Sumner                 see more on Brian's Blog

Lesser Whitethroat
Two records from South Bradford: 1. A male in full song at Toad Holes Beck and 2. A male singing in Oakenshaw.
Martyn Priestley
Also a Lesser Whitethroat recorded at High Royds, Menston.
Andrew Kelly
History of Lesser Whitethroat 1987 - 2018.

A breeding Lesser Whitethroat in 2019.                       photo: Roger Wilkinson

Leeshaw Reservoir
evening - three Lapwing chicks and a Cuckoo heard from Haworth Moor.
Steve Parkes

Wednesday 29th April 2020

Lady Lane/ Walsh Lane, Eldwick
Recent images from Phil Matthews taken on 25th April.

Whinchat                             Phil Matthews

Little Owl                                    Phil Matthews

Grey Partridge                                    Phil Matthews

Nuthatch at a nest hole                      Phil Matthews

Song Thrush                 Phil Matthews

Grey Herons

Yesterday we had a report of a heronry within the grounds of Esholt Water Treatment Works.  Today we have been informed that there's a herons nest in a conifer plantation at the corner of Cottingley Moor Road and Stoney Ridge Road, Cottingley.

Jane Robinson

Wharfe Meadows Park, Otley to Knotford Nook and return

On the river - two pairs of Goosander, a pair of Mandarin Ducks plus a single male, large numbers of Sand Martins, good numbers of Swallows and a few House Martins

In the fields - two Yellow Wagtails

Overhead - two red Kites, a Common Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk an four Swifts.

Knotford Nook - two pairs of Great Crested Grebes. 

Gallows Hill - two Song Thrush, many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, three singing Garden Warblers, a Treecreeper, a Greenfinch and a pair of Bullfinch.

John Armstrong

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Four Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, three Redshanks, two Curlew and five Common Sandpiper.
Brian Sumner

Tuesday 28th April 2020

Soil Hill, Denholme
11 Black-tailed Godwits flew north over Soil Hill.  A Cuckoo and two Wheatears also present.
Daniel Branch

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Nine Dunlin, five Common Sandpiper, two Oystercatcher, six Redshank, four Ringed Plover and 12 Herring Gulls.
Brian Sumner                     Brian's Blog

Ringed Plover at Fly Flatts                            photo: Brian Sumner

Dunlin at Fly Flatts                       photo: Brian Sumner

Lady Lane/Walsh Lane, Bingley - images by Phil Matthews

top to bottom: female Wheatear, male Kestrel, male Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, a submissive looking Robin and a hen Pheasant sitting on eggs.

Esholt Heronry

On a walk this afternoon within the Esholt water treatment estate I investigated what I took to be a nest in the top of a tree. In the top of a group of very tall conifers, around 80ft high, were several large nests, one of them creating the pig noises, clattering wings and shrieks, and perhaps three of the trees with large blue eggshells beneath, along with a lot of birdlime. I twice saw an adult heron visiting the noisy nest.

Mark Scrimshaw

Glovershaw
A male Wheatear on the 11th fairway.  Two separate pairs of Linnets in the area. Two singing Common Whitethroats.
Dowley Gap Water Treatment Works
4pm - About 100 hirundines, 70% Swallows, 20% House Martins, 10% Sand Martins were feeding over the filter beds.
Paul King

Monday 27th April 2020

Paul Marfell's pictorial blog of Birding In the Time of Coronavirus 

Low Moor
morning - A Swift moving west.
Martyn Priestley

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Four Wheatears, two Stonechat and a Snipe.

Male and female Wheatears at Nab Water Lane     photo: Brian Vickers      

Glovershaw
Four Wheatears on the 11th fairway.
Paul King

Dowley Gap Water Treatment Works
Three Swifts feeding over the filter beds.
Martin Taunton

Shipley (Sunday 26th)
12.30pm - Five House Martins between river and canal.
Manningham Park, Bradford
An update of breeding Coot - Despite drastic removal of and pruning of shrubbery on three of the islands in the lake, since I reported in early February, there are now four Coots nests with birds sitting on three of the islands and one under the decking beside the coffee shop. Two pairs had to start over once more as their earlier nests were trashed through the council’s work. The resilience the birds have to the human interference is surprising.
Joy Leach

Beamsley - Hazlewood
Two Cuckoos, one in Kexgill, Beamsley and the other in Picklesgill, Hazlewood.

Spring in Upper Wharfedale - images contributed by Roger Nelson

Sunday 26th April 2020

Oxenhope near Coach & Horses.
1pm - A reeling Grasshopper Warbler.  Could be heard from Halifax Road/Nab Water Lane area.                                                 Steve Parkes

Glovershaw (8am to 9.30am)

A male Yellow Wagtail was watched feeding on the 13th green.  A male Cuckoo attracted the attention of about a dozen Meadow Pipits as it called from a wire on the Glen Road.  Three pairs of Reed Buntings were seen across the area, whilst a female Wheatear and a singing Common Whitethroat were near the 11th fairway.  Curlews, Lapwings, Snipe and six Oystercatchers, were all present in Golcar Fields. 

Glen Road  In addition to over 20 singing Willow Warblers, a Common Whitethroat and a pair of Linnets.  Up to 20 Fieldfare remain in the fields behind Brackenhall Farm.

Paul King                          Yellow Wagtail 1987 to 2018

Glovershaw (10.30am to 11.30am)

A cuckoo (possibly the same one as above) was seen flying from the plantation to the gallops.  A male Wheatear was on the 11th fairway and a Common Whitethroat was on the Glen Road.                Report and images from Steve Meredith.

top to bottom - Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Snipe and Mistle Thrush.

Riddlesden Circular walk up Banks Lane to Holden Lane, into Aldar Carr Wood, onto LLCanal passed Low Wood and return. 50+Bird species; 

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, (Bar-headed Goose), Mallard, Goosander, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, Red-legged Partridge, Swift, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Woodpigeon, Stock Pigeon, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Robin, Hedge Accentor, Wren, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Pied Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Redpoll, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Starling, House Sparrow.  

Other species; Toad, Brown Hare, Roe Deer, Rabbit, Grey Squirrel and a Weasel
M Doveston

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Four Wheatears
Leeshaw Reservoir
Three Dunlin
Brian Vickers

Stockbridge
Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler could be heard singing on the reserve (now closed).
Mark Doveston

Ilkley Moor

After a hard day's birding                photo/art work: Keith Allen

Saturday 25th April 2020

Low Moor Banks
A Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Whitethroat both in song.
Martyn Priestley
Lesser Whitethroat 1987 to 2018

Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Nature Reserve
A Common Sandpiper, a Garden Warbler and a Redshank.
Ilkley Moor
A second Cuckoo.  This one behind White Wells.
John Brookes

Baildon station
A Swift flew over.
Jeremy Taylor

Bingley Bog North
Four pairs of Bullfinch, a pair of Grey Wagtails, two Blackcaps, two Long-tailed Tits and three Chiffchaffs.  A Green Woodpecker was calling from the cemetery area.
Steve Meredith

Nab Water Lane
Three female Wheatears
Leeshaw Reservoir
Three Common Sandpipers, four Cormorants, a Grey Wagtail and a Dunlin
Brian Vickers

Shibden Head, Queensbury
Two Blackcaps and a Common Whitethroat.  Linnets, Sparrowhawk and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Chris King

Oats Royd, Queensbury
A pair of Blackcaps plus a single male.  Several Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.
Brian Sumner

Glovershaw
A pair of Swallows at Golcar Farm and 10 Oystercatchers feeding in one of the few remaining damp areas.
Paul King

Keighley, Fell Lane
A Ring-necked Parakeet.
Steve Parkes

Lady Lane/Walsh Lane, Bingley
Evening - Whinchat, two Grey Partridge, eight Linnets, two Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Oystercatcher, Little Owl, Willow Warbler
Phil Matthews

Friday 24th April 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
17 Shovelers on the reservoir.  A record for Leeshaw which equals the 17 which visited Cononley Ings on 10th January 2012    History of the Shoveler 2003 - 2018

Male Shoveler at Leeshaw              photo: Brian Vickers

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Nine Wheatears and two Stonechat.
Brian Vickers

Beamsley
A Cuckoo seen and heard.  It was first heard yesterday.
Upper Wharfedale in spring - images from Roger Nelson

Pied Flycatcher (female)                    photo: Roger Nelson

Pied Flycatcher (female with nest material)            photo: Roger Nelson

Pied Wagtail, Willow Warbler and Wren            all by Roger Nelson

Ilkley Moor
A Cuckoo was calling from woods about a mile from Cow and Calf.
John Brookes

Glovershaw
Two Wheatears on the 11th fairway and a Common Whitethroat singing nearby.  A Cuckoo was heard passing over the race track area.
On the 20th April - A Yellow Wagtail was reported on the 14th green of the Golf Course.
Glen Road
A Common Whitethroat, at least 20 Willow Warblers and at Brackenhall Farm a small flock of Fieldfare is still hanging on.
Paul King

Shipley Glen

Male Blackcap with nesting materials           photo: Steve Meredith

Thursday 23rd April 2020

Grasshopper Warbler
Sightings of single birds at Oats Royd and Queensbury station.  There has also been one reported from Soil Hill.
Brian Sumner

Warblers in the BOG area - 2018                   Grasshopper Warbler 1987 - 2018

Glovershaw
Two Wheatears (pair) on the 11th fairway.  The flock of Golden Plovers is now down to 10.  They were chased away by a couple of Lapwings.
Brackenhall Farm, Shipley Glen
Fieldfares are still present but the number has decreased to about a dozen.
Paul King

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Five Wheatears and a Stonechat.
Brian Vickers

Dowley Gap Water Treatment Works
A Swift over the filter beds.
Martin Taunton

Wednesday 22nd April 2020

Brackenhall Hall, Shipley Glen
The Fieldfare flock which has been present for a couple of weeks has now increased to about 100 birds.
Glen Road - A pair of Common Whitethroat have just arrived.
Glovershaw - Eight Oystercatchers and about 20 Golden Plovers were feeding in a small damp area close to the running tracks.  A pair of Stock Doves were examining a nest box at Golcar Farm.
Paul King

A female Wheatear at Glovershaw                        Steve Meredith

Bingley, up river walk - pair of Grey Wagtail, 2 female Goosander, Sparrowhawk, 2 calling Nuthatches, 2 Blackcap singing, 3 calling Chiff-Chaff, Jay.
Shaun Radcliffe

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Six Wheatears and three Stonechats
Brian Vickers

A female Wheatear at Nab Water Lane               Brian Vickers

Hazlewood, Storiths
A pair of Reed Buntings, a pair of Stonechats, a pair of Wheatears and a singing male Pied Flycatcher.
Roger Nelson

Upper Wharfedale in April:  Common Buzzard, female Wheatear, Red Kite, Starling, Swallow and Tawny Owl        photos: Roger Nelson.

St. Ives, Bingley
A Common Whitethroat at Cuckoo's Nest, Harden.
Steve Parkes

Silsden
Swift over the river.
Ian Court

Tuesday 21st April 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir

Three Little Egrets dropped into Leeshaw.                    photo: Brian Vickers

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope

A male Wheatear, one of nine Wheatears at Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope        
photo: Brian Vickers

Upper Wharfedale (photos by Keith Allen)

From the top: Common Buzzard, Red Kite, Reed Bunting, Stonechat and Willow Warbler

Chellow Dene, Bradford

A nest-building Coot              photo: Ian Watson

A smart looking male Tufted Duck              photo: Ian Watson

Shipley Glen
A flock of over 20 Fieldfare remain in the fields behind Brackenhall.
Paul King