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

Bolton Abbey

 Tuesday 14th April a.m.

A cloudy start but some sunny intervals with a temperature of 3°C, a Common Sandpiper in the River Wharf was the first bird seen followed by a Goosander.  Several Oystercatchers were in the surrounding fields and in the woods several Pied Flycatchers were seen.  I also saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker and heard a Green Woodpecker plenty Nuthatches seen plus Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, LT Tit, Mandarin Duck & Pheasant.  The morning was rounded off as I headed back to the car seeing a male Redstart singing high in a tree and further along a Dipper was in the River.

Pied Flycatcher 

Redstart

Common Sandpiper 

Dipper

Goosander

Mandarin 

Nuthatch

Oystercatcher 

Chaffinch

Pied Flycatcher at Bolton Abbey 14/4/2026

Hewenden Reservoir

Monday 13th April a.m.

A sunny morning with the temperature at 7°C when I set off on a walk round Hewenden Reservoir.   The numbers of Swallow are building with several seen, Chiffchaffs & Willow Warblers were heard but remained elusive.  A couple of Buzzards were high up some distance away, a couple of Oystercatchers were near the water and good to get three Sand Martins.  A couple of Red- Legged Partridge were spotted plus a Kestrel, on the water there were Canadas & a Mute Swan. 

Swallow

 

Kestrel

Buzzard

Oystercatcher 

Red-legged Partridge 

Swallows around Hewenden Reservoir 13/4/2026