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

Slippery Ford

 Thursday 9th April a.m.

After a misty start by mid morning it was overcast but clear with a temperature of 12°C, so I decided to check out some birds reported at Slippery Ford yesterday.  There was another birder who arrived at a similar time as me and we were able to locate a Ring Ouzel in the distance, and soon after a second bird. After the other birder had gone I saw more Ring Ouzels making a total of four.  The distance was about 200 meters away so only record shots with the camera, but still delighted to see the birds as I headed off.

Ring Ouzel 

Ring Ouzels at Slippey Ford 9/4/2026

TMR

 Wednesday 8th April a.m.

With more sunshine this morning  I was soon out of the door and on my way to TMR where the start temperature of 8°C soon rose.  This site has limited access so after successfully opening the locked gates closing them behind me I parked the car in the usual spot.

  The first birds seen were two Wheatears milling around and a couple of Oystercatchers flew on to the Reservoir wall.  There were also a few Meadow Pipits around plus a few Willow Warblers were singing, I spotted two in distant trees.  On the water were Tufteds, Canadas and about a dozen LBB Gulls came in briefly before moving on.  From close to the hide I saw a pair of Goldeneye near the opposite bank, also a Snipe was drumming as it displayed high overhead.  I could hear Red Grouse calling and then spotting one in the distance.

  As I headed back a Pied Wagtail landed on the wall and further along a pair of Reed Buntings, then two Swallow appeared flying over the wall and circling over the water.  Then I spotted one of two Redshanks at the edge of the water which on this occasion I was able to get some pictures of.  Finally as I headed back down the track I spotted a pair of Stonechats, rounding off an excellent morning.

Redshank

Wheatear

Oystercatcher 

Pied Wagtail

Red Grouse 

Reed Bunting

Stonechat

Goldeneye

LBB Gulls

Redshank at TMR 8/4/2026