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

Thursday 30 January 2020

Thursday 30th January 2020

Shipley Glen
22 Grey Herons at the bottom of the Glen and three Common Buzzards circling overhead.
Paul King

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) -  Tree Sparrow, Water Rail heard, Jay, 5 Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, Common Gull.
Shaun Radcliffe

Wednesday 29 January 2020

Wednesday 29th January 2020

Strid Wood
About 100 Brambling were viewed from the stone shelter on the south side of the river and about 90 Mandarin Ducks (about 40 ducks and 50 drakes) were seen from the south bank between the Strid and the Pavillion.  In addition there were three Goosanders, three Dippers and a Kingfisher.
Mike Bloomfield

Redcar Tarn, Keighley
During the morning visiting gulls included 1st winter Iceland Gull and the 2nd winter Caspian Gull with leg ring. 
1st winter Iceland Gull takes off                                                                photo: Mike Bloomfield
2nd winter Caspian Gull with leg ring fitted near Leipzig in 2018                    photo: Mike Bloomfield
The Iceland Gull also spent a little time at Cullingworth Fields (KM).

Leeshaw Reservoir
Oystercatchers have returned to the reservoir.  Two were seen today.
Brian Sumner                                                                                                  Brian's website

Tuesday 27th January 2020

Redcar Tarn, Keighley
1st and 2nd winter Caspian Gulls and 1st winter Iceland Gull
1st winter Iceland Gull                        photo: Brian Sumner
More photos on Brian's website.

Sunday 26 January 2020

Sunday 26th January 2020

Redcar Tarn, Keighley
A 1st winter Iceland Gull (original finder on a local Whats App group)
1st winter Iceland Gull on Redcar Tarn   photo: Brian Sumner













Also, 1st winter and a 2nd winter Caspian Gulls (original finder Keith Moir)

St.Ives Estate
Herring Gull on practice fairway.
100+Redwing on STRI lawns, Blind Lane
Green Woodpecker Lady Blantyre's area
Common Buzzard heard near Druid's Altar
Siskin, Nuthatch, Treecreeper
M Doveston

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - Water  Rail, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Cormorant.

BOG working party


Leeshaw Reservoir
293 Greylag Geese and a Pink Footed Goose is still amongst them.
Brian Sumner

East Morton Garden
Nuthatch, Treecreeper, two Moorhens and Three Pheasants (2m & 1f), also four Collared Doves in the neighbourhood.
Shiela Barton


Saturday 25 January 2020

Saturday 25th January 2020

Redcar Tarn, Keighley
morning : 1st winter Caspian gull still present
23 Herring gull, mostly 1st winter,  5 ad LBB gull,  c 150 Lapwing
Brian Sumner

afternoon: An Iceland Gull (as per local Whats App Group)
Ian Hargreaves

Coppice Pond, St. Ives
One of the Caspian Gulls(un-ringed) briefly at Coppice Pond round about midday sat on one of the poles near island. 3 Male 6 Female Goosander. Flock of 60+ Redwing in horse field, Blind Lane, St Ives. A few Starling with them and, unusually as normally in pairs, a solitary Mistle Thrush but no Fieldfare.
Ian Skayman

Leeshaw Reservoir
132 Greylag, 27 Canada, 3m 1f Goosander, 2 Herring gull
Brian Sumner


Friday 24 January 2020

Friday 24th January 2020

Hope Hill, Baildon Moor
A pair of Grey Partridge, a flock of about 50 ground-feeding Redwing and 11 Tree Sparrows at Dobrudden Farm.
Paul King

Sunnydale, East Morton
Dipper seen on Morton Beck.
Shiela Barton



Thursday 23 January 2020

Thursday 23 January 2020

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) -  Water Rail heard, 5 Reed Bunting on feeders, Siskin.
Shaun Radcliffe

Back Shaw Lane, Harden
A flock of 50 redwings stopped in the trees on Back Shaw Lane by Harden Moor.
Also one little owl in the fields.
Alan Buckley

Leeshaw Reservoir
Early Oystercatcher over >NW
3 pr Goosander
1 Lapwing calling and holding territory in field.
+ usual sp.
Brian Sumner.                                                          more on Brian's website

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Yeadon Tarn
55 Tufted Ducks and the long-staying male Shoveler, but alas, no Pochards.
Paul King

Tuesday 21st January 2020

Northcliffe Park, Shipley
A skein of 80 to 100 Pink-footed Geese flew south-west along the Aire Valley at 2.20pm.
Jane Robinson

Tuesday 21 January 2020

Monday 20 January 2020

R Aire walk from Bingley to Hirst Wood - Dipper in Myrtle Park stretch plus a pair at Cottingley Bridge. Five Goosanders plus Mallards & the odd Moorhen. Good Views of Goldcrest at Hirst Wood.
Shaun Radcliffe

Sunday 19 January 2020

Sunday 19th January 2020

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) -  Tree Sparrow, Water Rail heard, Jay, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting.
BOG working party

Leeshaw Reservoir
248 Greylag Geese, 7 Canada Geese and a Pink Footed Goose...all on water.
2 Curlew over.......>W   and 12 Herring Gull.....>W
Brian Sumner                                                                   Brian's website

Sunnydale, East Morton
A Kingfisher spotted feeding over the last three days at Sunnydale reservoir  mid afternoon.
Sheila Barton

Canal at Three-rise and Bingley Bog North
Goosander (male and 2 female), Pheasant (8), Long-tailed Tit (2 - 5), Chaffinch (pair), Moorhen (1), Jay (1), Bullfinch (1), Snipe (3), Song Thrush (1), Common Gull (5 flyovers) plus 12 other species
Three male Pheasants in my back garden in the afternoon.
Photos and sightings by Phil Matthews: below (top to bottom) - Blackbird (female), Chaffinch (female), Goosanders (pair), Great Tit, Jay and Long-tailed Tit.






Saturday 18 January 2020

Saturday 18th January 2020

Silsden Reservoir
17 Wigeon, 10 Tufted Ducks and a Cormorant
Barden Scale
A Little Egret, two Raven, a Sparrowhawk a Common Buzzard and Red Kites
Brian Vickers

Shipley Glen
A flock of 15 Redwing on holly berries, 15 Grey Heron at rest, 50 Canada Geese and 100 Greylag Geese.
Paul King

Fly Flatts Reservoir
4 Great Black Backed gulls.........>NE
16 Herring gulls..................>SW
3 LBB gulls.........................>SW
1 pr Stonechat
46 Mallard on whats left of the water.
2 Raven
Large flock of mixed Fieldfare and Starlings.
Brian Sumner.



Friday 17 January 2020

Friday 17th January 2020

Bingley

I came out of my house this morning and noticed a large bird on the ground further up the road near the old College.  I grabbed my camera as the bird proved to be a large female Sparrowhawk sitting on a pigeon.  It was not eating but kept looking left and right at a crowd of Magpies, Jackdaws and Blackbirds that were vocally alarmed by it's presence.  After a few minutes a vehicle came down the road and the Sparrowhawk took flight, surprisingly followed by the pigeon.  Another Sparrowhawk had done something very similar a few months ago, again with a pigeon, almost directly outside the house. That pigeon did not survive the encounter.  Unluckily, I was informed by my wife of that one and totally missed it myself.                                                                            Photo and sighting by Phil Matthews

Thursday 16 January 2020

Thursday 16th January 2020

Cullingworth Fields & Redcar Tarn
There's now confirmation that there have been three Caspian Gulls in the south of our area.  A 1st-winter bird, first seen on the 5th, at Cullingworth Fields flew off and hasn't been seen again. There's a different 1st-winter and also a ringed 2nd-winter which have frequented Redcar Tarn.
Thanks to Keith Moir for confirming the situation.


Redcar Tarn, Keighley. p.m.
2nd winter yellow ringed Caspian gull still present.
Caspian Gull at Redcar Tarn                   photo: Brian Sumner
also c60 Herring gull
Brian Sumner.

Leeshaw Reservoir a.m.
5m 4 f Goosander, c200 Fieldfare, c100 Redwing
Brian Sumner


Wednesday 15 January 2020

Wednesday 15th January 2020

Shipley Glen
21 Grey Herons, 70 + Greylag Geese, 5 very vocal Nuthatch, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a couple of singing Great Tits.
Paul King


Tuesday 14th January 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
A small skein of 30 Pink-footed Geese flew west during the morning and before the heavy rain.
Brian Sumner

Monday 13 January 2020

Monday 13th January 2020

Redcar Tarn
The 2nd Winter Caspian Gull, ringed near Leipzig, was showing well during the morning.
Brian Sumner      Find out more on Brian's website.
Apperley Bridge
7 Ring-necked Parakeets
Whats App

Sunday 12 January 2020

Sunday 12th January 2020

Stockbridge reserve (members only) - Little Egret, Jay, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow at feeder closest to the hide.
Paul & Carolyn Robinson, Keith Allen, Shaun Radcliffe

Saturday 11 January 2020

Saturday 11th January 2020

Halton Heights- At 13.30, 120 Pinkfoot flew west in one formation against a gale blowing.
Shaun Radcliffe

Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits
Two Little Egrets, a Little Grebe, 200 Lapwings, 150 Curlews.
Steven Parkes


Friday 10th January 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)  1515hrs onward.
3 Skeins of Pink Footed Geese west.  85, 120, 15.
1 skein over Queensbury, west, c50
Several reports of pinks moving west over Calderdale, 1500 hrs till dark.
Brian Sumner find out more at https://birderbri.blogspot.com/

Yeadon Tarn
A flock of 100 Redwing were feeding in the fields at the top end of the area.
Bryce Henderson

Thursday 9 January 2020

Thursday 9 January 2020

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - Little Egret fishing, Reed Bunting, Bullfinch & display flight by Woodpigeon.
Shaun Radcliffe


A NEW LOCK IS NOW IN PLACE AT THE ENTRANCE GATE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE A HIDE KEY HOLDER ( & A CURRENT BOG MEMBER), BUT REQUIRE THE NEW KEY FOR THE GATE.

Wednesday 8 January 2020

Wednesday 8 January 2020

Whetstone Gate - 4 R L Partridge, Red Kite, Kestrel. No sign of any Stonechat.
Shaun Radcliffe

Otley Wetland Nature Reserve
300 Lapwing, 50 Curlew and 15 Goldeneye.

Knotford Nook
20 Goldeneye
Derek Parkin

Sunday 5 January 2020

Sunday 5th January 2020

Kildwick Ings
A Barnacle Goose with Greylags and Canadas.
Keith Moir

Cullingworth Fields
A 1st-Year Caspian Gull which flew off after discovery.

Photos and report by Keith Moir.

Redcar Tarn (Keighley) 15:00hrs
Plenty of Herring Gulls at various ages.
4 Adult LBBGulls with 2 immatures
200+BHGulls, few Common Gulls,
flock of Lapwing in nearby fields.
M Doveston


On the River Aire (or in fields by the river) between Bingley and Saltaire:
Goosander - 3 females
Heron - 10  (Most were in fields between Shipley Glen and the River Aire (as already reported by Paul King) with one seen feeding in the River)
Cormorant - 1
Greylag Geese - small flock in field (didn't count number)
Canada Geese - several
Mallard - several on river
Carrion Crow - 2
Woodpigeon - several
Song thrush - 1

Shipley Glen:
Robin - at least 2
Nuthatch - at least 2
Long-tailed Tits - approx 10
Jay -2
Magpie - 1
Blue Tit - several
Great Tit - several
Jackdaw - several
Wren - 2

Fields between Golcar Farm and Heights Lane:
Fieldfare - approx 10
Starling - approx 30
Chaffinch - 1
Goldfinch - no more than 4
Kestrel -2 
Moorhen - 1 on Compensation Reservoir

Leeds Liverpool Canal between Five Rise Locks, Bingley and the Fishermans Pub, Bingley
Mistle Thrush - 1
Mute Swan -2
Fieldfare - approx 10
Starling - approx 30
Chaffinch - 1
Goldfinch - no more than 4
Kestrel -2 
Moorhen - 1 on Compensation Reservoir

Leeds Liverpool Canal between Five Rise Locks, Bingley and the Fishermans Pub, Bingley
Mistle Thrush - 1
Mute Swan -2

Thomas Simcock

Thursday 2 January 2020

Thursday 2nd January 2020

Yeadon Tarn
Three Pochards (two males and a female), one male Shoveler, 52 Tufted Ducks and 21 Mute Swans.
Paul King

Heights Lane to Eldwick on New Year's Day.

Goldcrest (photo), Song Thrush , Common Gull, Grey Partridge 6 (photo), Kestrel (photo), Grey Wagtail 1, Redwing 1, Little Owl (photo), Mistle Thrush 7 (photo), Long-tailed Tit.

Black-headed Gull    photo: Phil Matthew
Goldcrest      photo: Phil Matthew

Six Grey Partridge            photo: Phil Matthew

Kestrel                  photo: Phil Matthew
Little Owl        photo: Phil Matthew
Mistle Thrush                               photo: Phil Matthew
Redwing                 photo: Phil Matthew

A selection of Phil Matthew's photos from his New Year's Day Walk.


STOCKBRIDGE RESERVE - ACCESS PROBLEMS

Important message for key holders

Please do not visit the Reserve unless the school is open. Our lock on the side gate is unreliable & a person could get locked in or be unable to lock up when leaving.

This matter is to be discussed with the school next week.


Wednesday 1 January 2020

Wednesday 1st January 2020

Happy New Year for 2020!

St. Ives Estate
Green Woodpecker yaffling , GSWdpker drumming,
13 Goosander, Common Gull, Brambling, Redwing,
GHeron, plus usual woodland species

Hewenden Res
6 Wigeon (2male), Pair Goosander, Pair Mute Swan,
5 Cormorant, 3 pairs Goldeneye, 4 Tufted Duck,
250 BHGulls, 30 Common Gull, 10 Herring Gull,

M Doveston

Shipley Glen
18 Grey Heron, at least 8 Jays hunting for acorns and 100 Greylags.
Paul King