Thornton Moor Reservoir (TMR)

Thursday 19th March a.m.

A sunny morning with a temperature of 8°C and a visit to TMR which has restricted access to BOG Members.  Good to see a couple of Oystercatchers and a Redshank which was determined not to have it's picture taken, flying 40 yards every time I got close.  A Grey Wagtail however was much more friendly and I got some good pictures.  Others seen were Curlew, Goosander, Teal, Canada, Greylag, Meadow Pipit, Herring Gull, LBB Gull & Pied Wagtail. 

Grey Wagtail

 

Pied Wagtail

Oystercatcher

Goosander

Greylag

Canadas

Curlew

Herring & LBB Gulls

Grey Wagtail at TMR 19/3/2026

Swillington Ings

Wednesday 18th March a.m.

An excellent morning at Swilly with birds being dominated by 1,000 plus BH Gulls across the site.  I started well with a singing Chiffchaff, then at Astley Lake added Little Egret, Cormorant, Pochard, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Lapwing, G.C Grebe, Shelduck & of course my mystery bird.  I had a good walk between the Reedbeds hearing over 20 Cetti's Warblers and spotting half a dozen of them.  Others added on the walk were Goldeneye, Shoveler, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Reed Bunting & good to hear the Bitterns booming.

Gt. Crested Grebe 

 

Chiffchaff

Cetti's Warbler 

Little Egret

Goldeneye

Gadwall

Shelduck

Redshank

Pochard

Reed Bunting

Shoveler 

Myster Bird?

Swillington Ings 18/3/2026

Swillington Ings Mystery Bird

 Wednesday 18th March a.m.

A beautiful sunny morning with the temperature just 4°C on arrival but soon rising to 16°C.  I spent quite alot of time at Astley Lake where I notice a tiny wader, my first thought was Dunlin but it seemed to be a smaller bird and the bill looked straight.  The nearby BH Gulls towered above this tiny wader, another thought was Little Stint, I took plenty pictures but I'm still not sure of the ID .  I put a picture in to a bird ID site which confused me more when it came back with Baird's Sandpiper? Any suggestions of the ID are welcome.

Mystery Bird

Mystery Bird next to a BH Gull

Mystery Bird with BH Gulls, Swillington Ings 18/3/2026

St. Ives, Bingley

 Tuesday 17th March a.m.

A sunny morning with a temperature of 11°C, the Coppice Pond had aMute Swan, Tufteds, Greylags, Moorhen, Coots & Mallards.  A walk through the woods added Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin & Blackbird, a quiet visit with nothing special on show.

Mute Swan

Tufted

 

Moorhen

Greylag

Coppice Pond, St Ives 17/3/2026