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 31 July 2020

Friday 31st July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
A Yellow-legged Gull was on the north shore with Lesser-black Gulls at 2pm.
Brian Sumner                          Brian's blog

Redcar Tarn, Keighley
Photographs of the Caspian Gull which has been at Redcar Tarn since the 29th July.


Photos and report from Keith Moir
 

Thursday 30 July 2020

Thursday 30th July 2020

Redcar Tarn
A 2nd calendar year Caspian Gull at Redcar Tarn this afternoon.   It was first seen on the 29th July.
Keith Moir

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
A Yellow-legged Gull, three Common Sandpipers, a Whinchat, a Stonechat and five juvenile Wheatears were seen.
Brian Sumner                       see more on Brian's blog

Shipley Glen
An adult Green Woodpecker with two juveniles near Brackenhall.
Paul King

Otley
A Greenshank flew west over East Otley at 6.40pm
Theo Kuechel

Wednesday 29 July 2020

Wednesday 29 July 2020

Whetstone area - single Wheatear, pair of Stonechat, flock of 60 Lapwing
Shaun Radcliffe

Otley Wetland Nature Reserve
A Whooper Swan, half a dozen Common Gulls, a Gadwall (in flight), a Kingfisher and a Little Egret.
John Armstrong

Glovershaw
A juvenile Stonechat
Paul King

Tuesday 28 July 2020

Tuesday 28th July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
9.30am  Two adult Sanderlings reported (see below).
Later : Two Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper.  Six juvenile Wheatears were also seen.



Brain Sumner                     see Brian's blog for more information.
 

Sunday 26 July 2020

Sunday 26th July 2020

Utley to Silsden (a report)
A very quiet afternoon stroll along the river and back along the canal.  There were lots of House Martin and Swallow action.  Approx 35 House Martins and 20 Swallows along the river itself then approx 120 Swallow and 50 House Martins in fields (and sky) south of Saxon Dene. They were perching on wires and trees and appearing from the grass.  Who knows how many remained hidden!  Also around 100 Black-headed Gulls also relaxing in the next field along.  Apart from a small flock of Siskin in the trees along the canal, and a Green Woodpecker in Low Wood, there's nothing else to report! 
Josh Selfe

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
A Common Sandpiper and a Ringed Plover
Brian Sumner

Baildon Moor
Over 20 Oystercatchers on the golf course, four Curlews, a Red Kite and a Kestrel.
Steve Meredith


Saturday 25th July 2020

Storiths Road, Barden
Amongst the birds seen were five Ravens, a family of Spotted Flycatchers and a number of Redstarts.


Photos of a juvenile Redstart and a family of Spotted Flycatchers by Brian Vickers

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
6 Ringed Plovers, i.e. three adult males, two adult females and a juvenile.
Brian Sumner                              more on Brian's blog


Friday 24 July 2020

Friday 24th July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)


A juvenile Ringed Plover which was on the reservoir together with an adult male and a female.
Photo from Brian Sumner.                                                   Brian's blog

Shipley Glen

A juvenile Kestrel           photo: Paul King


Thursday 23 July 2020

Thursday 23rd July 2020

Glovershaw
An adult Tree Sparrow was feeding two juveniles and other breeding witnessed included a Dunnock and a Wren with young birds.  The post-breeding flock of 19 Oystercatchers, seen earlier in the week, was still present on the golf course.
Paul King

Queensbury - Daillie Fields
A post-breeding flock of about 60 Goldfinch, also a Green Woodpecker and newly fledged Blackbirds plus Linnets, Greenfinch and Dunnock.
Howard Creber

Wednesday 22 July 2020

Wednesday 22nd July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
A drake Common Scoter visited the reservoir.  There were also four juvenile Wheatears, a Ringed Plover and flocks of hirundines and Swifts moving south.



Report and images from Brian Sumner       See Brian's blog for more information

Scargill Reservoir area - 60 Curlew flock, pair of Stonechat, Kestrel
John o'Gaunt Reservoir area - flock of 130 Curlew, 10 Oystercatchers, 6 Little Grebe, female Redstart, Buzzard, distant calls of Raven.
Shaun Radcliffe

Saltaire garden
A Kingfisher is now a daily visitor to an 8m x 4m garden pond, today it was taking small/medium Rudd, some as large as the bird.  The bird flies in the direction of Shipley Glen and returns about ten minutes later.  Grey Wagtails are also visiting and have been seen on passage.  Both Little Owl and Tawny Owl are also present at the moment. Current garden list is currently 85 (includes flyovers).
Steve Meredith

Tuesday 21 July 2020

Tuesday 21st July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
A Dunlin, a Ringed Plover an adult Wheatear in autumn plumage, three juvenile Wheatears, five Raven and four Kestrel were all present at Fly Flatts.

Report and photo of a Dunlin at Fly Flatts by Brian Sumner      Brian's blog

Ponden to Watersheddings Reservoir
Two Raven, a Little Owl, a family of four Kestrels, breeding Stonechat and the main highlight five Spotted Flycatcher just east of Ponden Reservoir.  There were two other Spotted Flycatchers at the house on roadside opposite the reservoir.
Stephen Parkes

Glovershaw
The three juvenile Stonechats which were present yesterday, are still in the same area by the 'gallops'.  A large flock of birds airborne over Hawksworth Moor consisted of 100+ Lapwings and a similar number of Starlings.  The cutting of silage attracted Lesser Black Gulls and a Red Kite dropped onto a piece of carrion whilst a small number of Swallows skimmed over the fields.
Paul King



Monday 20 July 2020

Monday 20th July 2020

Glovershaw
A post-breeding flock of 19 Oystercatchers were feeding on the 13th and 14th fairways.  Three juvenile Stonechats were on a bramble patch close to the 'gallops'.
Paul King

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Three juvenile Wheatears, a single juvenile Stonechat, 12 Meadow Pipits (adults and juveniles), five Swallows and two Common Buzzards.
Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
About 200 Canada Goose.
Howard Creber

Soil Hill
A Grasshopper Warbler is still on Soil Hill.  It has moved around the mound, NE of the ruin.
David Sutcliffe


Sunday 19 July 2020

Sunday 19th July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Five Dunlin: two on the shore and three flew over. A Ringed Plover and 11 Wheatear.
Brian Sumner             more on Brian's blog

Glovershaw
A juvenile Wheatear was feeding on the 7th fairway and a Common Whitethroat was by the 'gallops".  A small flock of House Martins were feeding in this area and Swallows were flew over the fields by Golcar Farm.  Last week, a family of four Kestrels were seen here.
Paul King

Rag Clough, Oxenhope
Four juvenile Ravens encountered a family of four Kestrels.  It was in this area that a family of three or four Whinchat were seen last week.
Stephen Parkes





Saturday 18 July 2020

Saturday 18th July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
am - Eight juvenile Wheatears and a male Ringed Plover.
pm - Two Little Egrets were seen briefly as they flew south in heavy drizzle. A first for this site.


Brian Sumner                more on Brian' blog

Otley Wetland Nature Reserve

I had a brief sojourn down Otley Wetland earlier, on yet another dreary, damp July day.


Hadn't been down for a few weeks, so was rather surprised to see two Goldeneyes spending the summer. They looked like females, but this time of year, ducks are in moult, so could be a pair.


Not much else bird wise, as you'd expect in July, just a single juvenile Little Grebe (at least they bred), a few Cormorants, Oystercatchers, Lapwings and LBB Gulls, Common Sandpiper (heard only), pair of Common Tern (couldn't seen any young, although one bird was aggressive towards a Jackdaw), four Stock Doves, a few Common Swifts, the odd House Martin, and a few Reed Warblers.

John Armstrong

Soil Hill
A Grasshopper Warbler was 'reeling' in a corner of the field, next to stone circle and ruin.
Chris King

Friday 17 July 2020

Friday 17th July 2020

Washburn Valley - female Blackcap, Spotted Fly, Red Kite, 2 Buzzard, Sand Martins
Storiths - Green Woodpecker, 3 Spotted Fly, Curlew with young, Hobby, 3 Red Kite, Kestrel, Mistle Thrush, 12 Oystercatchers
Ilkley Moor- Stonechat family, 9 Siskin, Grasshopper Warbler reeling (map ref SE105468)
Richard Lobley & Chuck Bulter


Juvenile Curlews in Upper Wharfedale


Juvenile Curlews in Upper Wharfedale   photos: Roger Nelson

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Rservoir)
11am - A female Common Scoter was present.
Brian Sumner


Shipley Glen
A Green Woodpecker, first seen yesterday, has been feeding near Brackenhall Farm.
Paul King

Garden Observations - Low Utley
In my Low Utley garden today I had goldfinch, greenfinch, siskin, redpoll, bullfinch and chaffinch!! (The first time I've ever had greenfinch in my garden in the year I've lived here!) 

Add to that: house sparrows feeding their second brood of the year in my neighbours attic, a juv Robin, a family of dunnock; coal, great, blue and Long-tailed tits, wren, a four bird oystercatcher fly-over, and the sounds of nuthatch, treecreeper and song thrush in the trees just outside my garden, and it's not been too shabby of a garden watch day! 

A completely meaningless observation: the mail house sparrow always leaves the fecal sacks he removes from nest in a neat row along the trellis, making it easy just to jet off with the hose, the female, on the other hand, drops them willy nilly from perching on the bird feeder and makes the floor a complete mess! 
Josh Selfe

Thursday 16 July 2020

Wednesday 15th July 2020

Hirst Wood, Shipley
A post breeding flock of 11 Goosanders moved along the River Aire.
photo: Graham Wood

Aire Valley Garden
A Kingfisher visits a garden pond.
photo: Steve Merdith



Wednesday 15 July 2020

Tuesday 14th July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Wheatears are now beginning their journey south.  Five juveniles were present at Fly Flatts as a good number of Swifts flew south.  A male Ringed Plover with a juvenile were feeding but Curlews and Common Sandpiper had already departed the area.


Report and images from Brian Sumner.  Brian's blog



Monday 13 July 2020

Monday 13th July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Rservoir)
A female Common Scoter, seen during the morning.  More on Brian's blog

Common Scoter on Warley Moor Reservoir
There were also four Common Scoters on Keighley Moor
Ian Hargreaves

Glovershaw area -
singing Whitethroat, Bullfinch, Kestrel, singing Reed Bunting
Sconce Lane - Little Owl with a juvenile, flock of 10 Linnet, Whitethroat plus another singing near to Scout Camp.
Shaun Radcliffe

Sunday 12 July 2020

Sunday 12th July 2020

Barden Bridge - River Wharfe
Seen along the riverside: Spotted Flycatcher, Kingfisher, Treecreeper. Common Sandpiper, Dipper, Mandarin Duck and a group of 12 Goosanders.



Female Blackcap, Kingfisher, Treecreeper
Photos and report from Steve Meredith

Ireland Bridge, Bingley - downstream, Little Egret
Matthew Rawnsley

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - family of Whitethroat, 6 Grey Heron (5 in a roost, other on the water), 3 Buzzard circling high over Riddlesden.
Low Snowdon - female Stonechat plus a juvenile.
Shaun Radcliffe

Saturday 11 July 2020

Saturday 11th July 2020

Storiths Road, Barden



Green Woodpecker, juvenile Green Woodpecker, Little Owl and a family of Spotted Flycatchers
photos by Brian Vickers

Glovershaw
There were two Snipe, a family of Stonechats by the cabins, Meadow Pipits carrying food and a couple of Little Owls near the old buildings.

photos and report by Steve Meredith

Hawksworth Moor - 2 Snipe, 2 Golden Plover, Red Kite, Kestrel, 3 Oystercatcher, a few Lapwing & Meadow Pipits still displaying in flight.
Shaun Radcliffe

Aire Valley (Riddlesden to Silsden)
Josh's report included sightings of : Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, seven Oystercatcher a Kingfisher at its nest site and 100 Canada Geese.   There was still a limited amount of activity at one of the three Sand Martin sites, though the other two had been washed out.  There were no Common Sandpipers on the river, all their habitats are still under water, but there was one hiding up the 'Cobby' in Silsden.
Stockbridge Reserve: Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff
Canal: Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Kestrel hunting in adjacent fields.
Low Wood: Nuthatch and Treecreeper (both with young) and a hedgehog.
Redcar Tarn: Seven House Martins, three Swallows and a few Tufted Ducks
Josh Selfe

Thursday 9 July 2020

Thursday 9 July 2020

Stockbridge Reserve (members only) - pair of Whitethroat feeding 3 young, now out of the nest.
Shaun Radcliffe & John Preshaw

Glen Road, Baildon
A family of Willow Warblers, two adults and at least two well developed young.
Paul King

Cullingworth garden
Lots of young birds coming to garden feeders, probably due to the good early spring weather.  As well as the the usual good numbers of Blue Tits and Great Tits, we've had at least three Coal Tits coming regularly; a first for us plus a single juvenile Bullfinch.  We get Bullfinches daily on our feeders.  The Bullfinch count, so far, is not as good as last year when we had three juveniles coming regularly.
Ian Skayman

Tuesday 7 July 2020

Tuesday 7th July 2020

Barden to Storiths (Back Road)

A family flock of Spotted Flycatchers

House Martins have used a natural cavity in a window lintel, something a pair has been doing for several years



Juvenile great Spotted Woodpecker, Little Owl and a juvenile Stonechat.


Curlew and Tree Pipit in Upper Wharfedale
A photographic record by Roger Nelson

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Brian reported that Swifts were moving south in good numbers and six Ringed Plovers were on the edge of the reservoir.
Brian Sumner            more on Brian's Blog

Haworth Garden
Coal Tits and Blackbirds have successfully bred in Howard's garden.
Howard Creber

Robert's Park, Saltaire
Greylags head for the cricket pitch. Unfortunately the groundsman had gone home!
photo: Graham Wood

Monday 6 July 2020

Monday 6 July 2020

River Aire, Wagon Lane - only two pairs of Sand Martin at the colony entering holes with food.
Dowley Gap & Bingley Bog South - both had singing Common Whitethroat.
Shaun Radcliffe

Shipley
A Little Egret flew low over Carlton Avenue.

A Greylag approaches a visiting Cormorant.
Report & photo: Graham Wood

Brackenhall, Shipley Glen
A Red Kite hunted low over the fields and Swifts were feeding over the Glen.
Paul King



Saturday 4 July 2020

Saturday 4th July 2020

River Aire between Utley and Silsden

The Aire was very high today. Two of the three Sand Martin colonies along the Utley-Silsden stretch (the busiest two of the three) were flooded, although each had one or two birds hanging around. The third was still well above water level but was completely abandoned anyway! Not sure they would have had time to squeeze a brood out before it flooded.  The two sites where Common Sandpiper seemed to be attempting to breed were also gone! However, there was action at both Kingfisher nests, so not all bad news! 

Josh Selfe

Friday 3 July 2020

Friday 3rd July 2020

Shipley Glen
7am - A post-breeding flock of 12+ Greenfinch in a garden.
7pm - A flock of over 20 Swifts feeding over the trees.
Paul King

Wednesday 1 July 2020

Wednesday 1st July 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)

One of two juvenile Ringed Plovers, now 31 days old, at Fly Flatts           photo: Brian Sumner
more information on Brian's blog