Harden Moor

Saturday 25th April a.m.

A lovely sunny morning with a temperature of 11°C which started well watching a singing Whitethroat soon followed by the call of a Cuckoo, which I saw later as it flew around.  Others were Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Oystercatcher, LBB Gull, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Wren & a couple of Green Hairstreak Butterflies during an enjoyable walk. 

Whitethroat

Willow Warbler

LBB Gull

Meadow Pipit

Song Thrush

Green Hairstreak Butterfly on Harden Moor 25/4/2026

Leeming Reservoir

Wednesday 22nd April a.m.

After a cloudy start the sun came out so I went to Leeming where there was a strong wind blowing with a temperature of 8°C.  Overhead were Sand Martins & House Martins, as I passed the overflow there were a couple of Grey Wagtails & Pied Wagtails.  Going along the path at the side of the res a Swallow flew low over the water, on the water tower there were two Oystercatchers and a Cormorant.  There were several Willow Warblers up singing but all were elusive, a Chaffinch was seen and a Peacock Butterfly added some colour. Heading back as I approached the dam wall a Common Sandpiper landed at the waters edge soon followed by a second bird.  These were some distance away but patience was the key in waiting for them to make their way closer to me for some good pictures.

Common Sandpiper 

House Martin

Oystercatchers 

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Cormorant 

Peacock Butterfly 

Common Sandpipers at Leeming Res

In stark contrast to last year a full Leeming Reservoir 22/4/2026

Harden Moor

 Monday 20th April a.m.

A cloudy morning with a temperature of 5°C as I had a walk on Harden Moor which started with a couple of Whitethroats.  There were many Willow Warblers singing and it was good to see a couple of Sand Martins near their traditional nest site.  A couple of Oystercatchers were in the quarry area as were Lapwings and a Red-legged Partridge. It was good to see a couple of Stonechats on the Moor and also there were four Wheatear moving across the Moor. Others seen were Jay, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Wren, Linnet, Skylark, Robin & Blackbird.  

Stonechat

Wheatear

 

Willow Warbler

Whitethroat

Linnet

Wheatear & Stonechat on Harden Moor 20/4/2026

Swillington Ings

Sunday 19th April a.m.

A sunny morning but a chilly start at just 4°C as I headed around Swillington Ings with well over a 1,000 BH Gulls across the site.  Also hundreds of Sand Martins were flying around and good to catch up with several Black-necked Grebes looking wonderful in their breeding plumage.  Plenty others around with Cetti's Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers & Chiffchaff heard, Bitterns were also booming.  Others seen included Reed Bunting, Gadwall, Pochard, Shoveler, Little Grebe, Gt Crested Grebe, Lapwing & Oystercatcher. 

Black-necked Grebe

Gadwall

Gt C. Grebe

Pochard

Shoveler

Reed Bunting

Willow Warbler

Black-necked Grebes at Swillington Ings 19/4/2026