Tuesday 12th May 2020

Myrtle Park, Bingley - River Aire

A Dipper carrying a ring - later seen on Harden Beck.

A female Goosander on the river – Initially one bird on my first pass, this had increased to two when I came back that way; and then later a third flew downstream – all females

Report and photos: Phil Matthews

Heber's Ghyll, Ilkley

There are at least two singing male Wood Warbler's in the Ghyll.
Keith Allen

Burley in Wharfedale: River Wharfe, between Burley and Otley
Mandarin: female with 6 chicks
Goosander: single female, sadly without young!
Common Buzzard: 4
Swifts: a few Swallow: a few  Sand Martin: many
John Armstrong

Apperley Bridge/Esholt

Blackcap 6, Common Whitethroat 5, Chiffchaff 5

Gadwall 2   Both drakes at separate locations and having seen females recently I'm hoping they may be nesting somewhere in the area. A drake on the river is always in the same spot and he initially had a duck with him.

Heron 5, Common Buzzard, Kestrel 

Sand Martin 15+ above nest bank

Hirundines numerous above filter beds. Roughly 85% House Martin and the rest Swallow, Sand Martin and Swift respectively.

Song Thrush 3 singing, Stock Dove 3, Oystercatcher 3, Bullfinch 5, Chaffinch 2

Teal calling 

Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 (and one pair observed feeding young at nest)

Nuthatch also feeding young in an old GSW nest I found in 2016.  Plastered nicely with mud.

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)

Eight Common Sandpiper, 14 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, four Redshank and two Oystercatcher.

A Dunlin at Fly Flatts

Report and photo from Brian Sumner                        see more on Brian's blog

Monday 11th May 2020

Leeshaw Reservoir
Late afternoon - A Whimbrel.  The bird flew off eastwards.
Howard Creber

Hirstwood Weir & Shipley Glen
A pair of Dippers were feeding at the nest, a breeding Grey Wagtail and a pair of Pied Wagtails were on the weir.  A couple of Moorhen chicks were precariously swimming in the middle of the river.
In the Glen, two Great Spotted Woodpecker about 50 metres apart, nests were visited.   At one, a male bird was seen taking in food.  He left carrying a sac and was immediately ambushed by a Jay.  Fortunately, a pointed beak came in handy on this occasion.  The Jay had met its match.
Paul King

Sunday 10th May 2020

Hirstwood
Breeding birds - Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Treecreeper.

Report and images by Steve Meredith

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)

10 Dunlin, five Ringed Plover, 17 Common Sandpiper, six Redshank, two Oystercatcher a Common Snipe and a Golden Plover. In addition there was a pair of Tufted Duck, a Barnacle  Goose, around 30 Canada Goose goslings and six Greyalg Goose goslings.

Brian Sumner                see more details and photos on Brian's blog.

Eldwick Reservoir and environs - images from Phil Matthews

Grey Partridge, Little Owl, Oystercatcher, Common Snipe and Tufted Duck (female)

Saturday 9th May 2020

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
A Cuckoo and five Wheatears (all female).

Cuckoo and female Wheatear from Brian Vickers

Glovershaw
A Common Whitethroat by the gallops gate and a Cuckoo could be heard from the Sconce area.  Snipe were performing their 'roding' display and Curlews and Lapwings occupied Golcar Fields.  Two pairs of Reed Buntings were well-established and a Red Kite and a Common Buzzard circled overhead.

Birds at Glovershaw: Common Snipe, Common Whitethroat and Willow Warbler

A Red Kite over Shipley and a Grey Heron at Glovershaw 

Steve Meredith

Haworth Garden
Quite a garden list from Howard!  Blackcap (pair), Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Greenfinch (pair) - feeding, Chaffinch (pair) - feeding, Goldfinch, LT Tits - feeding, Song Thrush.
Howard Creber

Shipley Glen
Breeding birds included two pairs of Great Spotted Woodpecker, both involved in feeding at nest holes.  A pair of Blackcaps were involved in collecting food and a young Dunnock was fed by an adult.  On the Glen Road, a Common Whitethroat sang and hunted for flies from a prominent perch.  At Brackenhall, a dozen or so Starlings foraged for worms and when their beaks were full they flew south towards the Coach Road and Saltaire.
Paul King

Holden Lane, Silsden to Low Wood

Holden Lane/ Silsden Road fields:

Red legged partridge (x2), Lapwing, Curlew, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, Swift, 

Keighley golf course:

Grey wagtail, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Song & Mistle thrush, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff 

Low Wood:

Singing Pied-flycatcher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Siskin, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Jays (& 2 deer)

Josh Selfe

Crossroads to Hardnese Clough at Dawn
A dawn walk produced 46 species including two "Lockdown 1sts" - a Common Whitethroat at Stones Lane and a pair of Bullfinch at the Clough.
Steve Parkes

Heber's Ghyll Ilkley, and adjacent moorland above the wood
Red Grouse: several males on moorland
Sparrowhawk: two individuals above wood
Golden Plover: heard on moorland
Curlew: two
Cuckoo: one male calling on moor, later flew over my head
House Martin: a few in Ilkley
Meadow Pipit: common, moor
Stonechat: pair on moor
Common Redstart: two separate males singing in plantations on the moor
Mistle Thrush: One singing top of wood
Willow Warbler: common mainly in rowans on the moor
Wood Warbler: One singing male seen well at top of wood, another probably heard only
Spotted Flycatcher: 1 seen under canopy close to Wood Warbler, others probably heard in vicinity
Treecreeper: two, wood
Siskin: heard only
Lesser Redpoll: One in flight over moor

Linnet: heard only on moor
John Armstrong

Friday 8th May 2020

Otley Wetland Nature Reserve
Goldeneye (1 male), Water Rail (heard only), Common Tern (pair), Little Owl (1), Common Swift (fair nrs), Sand Martins, Dipper (1, river), 
Grasshopper Warbler (pair in rough grass beyond cattle grid, towards sailing club), Reed Warbler (good nr), Sedge Warbler (1), Garden Warbler (2-3), Bullfinches, Reed Buntings
John Armstrong

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Five Wheatears (four females and a male) and a Grey Wagtail.
Leeshaw Reservoir
Three Dunlin, a Curlew and a Common Sandpiper.

Three of the waders at Leeshaw: A Common Sandpiper, a Curlew and a Dunlin - Brian Vickers

Glovershaw
Two Wheatears in Golcar Fields, two Swallows at the farm, three Jays relocating and two singing Common Whitethroats which have now established breeding sites.
Paul King

Beckfoot Lane, Bingley
A Wood Warbler and a pair of Goldcrest.
River walk, Bingley
Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff and Grey Wagtail seen during walk.
Steve Meredith

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Four Dunlin, a Ringed Plover seven Common Sandpiper, three Redshank, three Stonechat, two Reed Bunting, a Common Buzzard and two Oystercatchers.  A Barnacle Goose was sitting on a nest and a Cuckoo could be heard over towards Ogden.
Brian Sumner                     more on Brian's Blog.

Dowley Gap to Hirst Wood (6pm to 7pm)
Three Pied Wagtail, a pair of breeding Grey Wagtail, and an Oystercatcher.
Steve Meredith

A Wheatear at Whetstone            photo: Keith Allen

Breeding birds in Manningham Park

…Before they become snacks to some predator or other – today there were:

Four Canada goslings; two greylag goslings; four mallard ducklings and four moorhen chicks on Manningham Park Lake.  I’d not noticed the moorhen nesting underneath a patch of nettles on one of the islands -but then they aren’t quite as public as the coots with their mounds of sticks & plastic detritus.

Joy Leach

Eldwick Reservoir
13 Swallows, six Willow Warbler, two Oystercatcher, a Common Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail, a Blackcap, three Song Thrush, a Jay, a Long-tailed Tit, two Chiffchaff, two Mistle Thrush plus a nest with two eggs.  Also present were Moorhen, Tufted Duck (female), Pied Wagtail and a Jackdaw nest on a chimney on Otley Road.
Phil Matthews

Thursday 7th May 2020

Lindley Bridge and upstream River Washburn
Common Sandpiper (3), Curlew (1), Stock Dove (3), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin (large nr), Common Redstart (3), Garden Warbler (good nrs, at least 4 seen), Pied Flycatcher (2), Nuthatch.
John Armstrong

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
A Barnacle Goose, a pair of Teal and 12 Common Sandpiper.  There were also six Ringed Plover, two Oystercatcher, 13 Dunlin and nine Herring Gull. A Cuckoo flew over the area and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also present.
Brian Sumner                    more on Brian's blog

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Four female Wheatear, four Stonechat, Grey Wagtail and a Snipe.
Brian Vickers

Leeshaw Reservoir
Two Dunlin

Dunlin                   photo: Brian Vickers

Newsholme Dene
A singing male Redstart
Slippery Ford
A breeding pair of Grey Partridge
Haworth
A calling Cuckoo
Steve Parkes

Shipley Glen

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker at it's nest hole   photo: Paul King

Crossflatts
A Green Woodpecker was 'yaffling' near the Premier Inn.  A Red Kite was seen later.
Steve Meredith

SWIFT NEWS 
Eldwick   
The first Swift has arrived back at the regular breeding site
Jonathan Lees

Lady Lane/Walsh Lane, Bingley - A birder's diary

Unusually a pair of Snipe have taken up temporary? residence on my patch. I saw and photographed one and heard another on Tuesday, and then only heard one on Wednesday

The Raven was back on Tuesday.

I seem to have lost the Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails for now, hopefully not permanent; but have found a nesting pair of Coal Tits

Had my first Swifts on the patch yesterday, and first House Martins the day before.

The raptor situation changes daily – Red Kite are expected most days as are Kestrel, but Buzzard is less reliable.   However, last Friday I had three together.

Chaffinch, Lapwing and Snipe           photos: Phil Matthews

Lady Lane / Walsh Lane

Little Owl 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Ostercatcher 2, Swallow 2, Willow Warbler 2, Greylag Goose 7, Pied Wagtail, Snipe, Meadow Pipit, House Martin.

First Holly Blues of the year with 2 seen

Wednesday 6th May 2020

Wood Warblers

Two birds were singing from Beckfoot Lane, near Myrtle Park path this morning. Also a couple of Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff in the area.
Steve Meredith

Two Wood Warblers were singing in Heber's Ghyll today.  Whilst Keith Allen was focussing on the warblers a Goldcrest came into view.

Goldcrest in Heber's Ghyll                photos: Keith Allen

Heaton, Bradford

Five Swifts seen over the area.

Jane Robinson

The location of Swift's nests in the area would be very useful. Please tell us where they are.

Shipley Glen/Glen Road
Breeding activity - A pair of Swallows collecting mud and returning to Glovershaw Farm.  Two pairs of Mistle Thrush feeding young, one pair on the ground, the other pair taking food to a nest.  A pair of Stock Doves inspecting a rock crevice where breeding often takes place.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker's nest where the adults and feeding young.
Glen Road - Two Common Whitethroat in full song.
Paul King

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
14 Dunlin, 11 Common Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover, two Oystercatcher, three Redshank, 14 Herring Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gull, two Wheatear and a Swift.
Brian Sumner                      more on Brian's Blog

Brian Vickers also visited the area he recorded six Dunlin, five Common Sandpiper, three Redshank and a pair of Teal.

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Four Wheatear and a Wren with nest material.

Lapwing Chicks in Upper Wharfedale from Roger Nelson

Roger says that four out five nests (17 eggs) he's been watching have all hatched successfully.

Lister Park, Bradford
Three Swifts over the park at 10 am.
Russell King

Tuesday 5th May 2020

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Five Ringed Plover, six Dunlin, four Redshank, 13 Common Sandpiper.
Brian Sumner                     more on Brian's blog

Storiths
A male Redstart, a male Pied Flycatcher and five Swifts.

An incubating Blue Tit                photo: Roger Nelson

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Three Wheatears.
Brian Vickers

Lesser Whitethroat
A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing in the area near the entrance to Sun Lane Reserve, Burley-in-Wharfedale.  Another was reported at Leathley.
John Armstrong and Andy Jowett

Monday 4th May 2020

Heber's Ghyll, Ilkley
There's now two or perhaps three singing Wood Warblers in Heber's Ghyll.

Photos and Report by Keith Allen

There was a Cuckoo calling from nearby.

Beckfoot Lane, Bingley

Another Wood Warbler was present in Beckfoot Lane at about 10am.  It was singing from trees in a scrubby area adjacent to the golf course, not far from the bridleway to Mytle Park.  Blackcap also prominent and a couple of Swifts over the park.

Ian Skayman

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope

Two female Wheatears

Utley to Silsden stretch of the River Aire.
Three Sand Martin nesting sites along this stretch produced over 30 adult birds.  In addition there were four Common Sandpipers, six Curlew, two Goldcrest, a Goosander, a Grey Heron, two Kingfishers, a Lesser Redpoll, five Oystercatcher, four Reed Bunting.  Other species included Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, House Martin, Swallow and Swift.  Along the canal Treecreeper and Stock Dove were noted.
Josh Selfe

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
A Cormorant flew south.  There were eight Common Sandpiper, a Redshank, a Ringed Plover, two Reed Buntings and a Cormorant which flew off southwards.

Queensbury - 3pm a Red Kite went SW.
Brian Sumner                            Brian's Blog

Sunday 3rd May 2020

Opposite Bingley G S - singing Garden Warbler with brief sighting, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, a pair of LTT, pair of Bullfinch.  Very high & circling, pair of Raven before moving up valley.
Shaun Radcliffe

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir
Nine Dunlin, 11 Common Sandpiper, three Redshank, four Ringed Plover, four Curlew, two Oystercatcher and four Wheatear.

Brian Sumner                        see more on Brian's Blog

River at Hirstwood
A Dipper at Hirstwood Weir, Kingfishers disputing territory and a Blackcap in Shipley Glen.

Images and report by Steve Meredith

Ogden Reservoir
A male Mandarin courting a female Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen and two Jays.
Chris King

Shipley Glen
Three singing Blackcaps, three pairs of Jay, a Mistle Thrush feeding a juvenile and, whilst watching a Willow Warbler, a large white feather approaching at speed.  It looked like a miniature drone, but the feather was propelled by a speedy Wren heading to its nest site.
Paul King

Bradup & Whetstone Areas
Whinchat ♂, 2 Wheatear ♀, Stonechat ♂, Spotted Flycatcher♂, Golden Plover, Snipe,
Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Little Owl, Lapwing with downy young, Kestrel,
https://www.xeno-canto.org/553599

Riddlesden - 1300hrs
Red Kite (wing-tagged), House Martins, Swifts
M Doveston

Eldwick and Glovershaw - images from Phil Matthews

top to bottom: Blackcap, Chaffinch, Common Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit and Song Thrush.

Saturday 2nd May 2020

Heber's Ghyll, Iikley
A Wood Warbler was singing this morning at the top of the Ghyll.
John Brookes
Warblers in the area 1987 - 2017

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
Three Wheatears and two Stonechats.
Brian Vickers

Bingley
A Raven, high over the town centre
Martin Taunton.

Glovershaw
Two Wheatears (male and female) on the 11th fairway and two Common Whitethroat singing near the 'gallops'.  Two pairs of Reed Bunting.
Glen Road
A pair of Bullfinch, a Common Whitethroat, a Blackcap, three Chiffchaffs and at least 10 singing Willow Warblers.
Paul King

Ebor Mill Nature Reserve, Haworth
A Kingfisher, several Blackcaps, Coal Tit and Greenfinch.  Pair of nesting Canada Geese.
Howard Creber

Fly Flatts (Warley Moor Reservoir)
Two Ringed Plovers, eight Common Sandpiper, four Redshank in addition to several Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, 200 Herring Gulls and 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  Lapwing chicks were also noted.
Brian Sumner                  Brian's Blog

Friday 1st May 2020

Glovershaw,  Baildon
7.30am - Two Wheatears (male and female) and a female Stonechat.
Shipley Glen
Two pairs of Mistle Thrush, one pair feeding two young on the ground the other pair taking food to the nest.
Paul King

Storiths
Two Garden Warblers (singing) and a single Swift overhead.

Cock Pheasants 'square up'            photo and report: Roger Nelson

Myrtle Park, Bingley - single Swift amongst a dozen House Martin feeding above the river.
Shaun Radcliffe

Nab Water Lane, Oxenhope
2 Wheatears
Brian Vickers

Otley Wetland Nature Reserve
A male Gadwall, two Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, 2+ Redshanks, 1-2 pairs of Common Tern, a Little Owl and good numbers of Swifts and large numbers of Sand Martins.  Up to 8 Reed Warblers singing (two seen), three to four Garden Warblers singing (one seen) and five to 6 Reed Buntings.
John Armstrong.