Leeshaw is a Pennine reservoir above 700 feet near Oxenhope, in the Bradford Ornithological Group Area. In common with most of these artifical lakes they are most interesting when the water level drops to reveal areas of mud. Common Sandpiper, Grey and Pied Wagtail breed around the waterside and Lapwing and passing waders feed on the exposed mud. In July 2005 a Little Egret was seen on the lake side. Ducks and Geese frequent the water during winter and some stay to breed, particularly Canada Geese.

 

 

 

 

Notable Sigtings - 2003

March 2003 70 Lapwings and 200 in July.

March to July 2003 Leeshaw remains the group’s stronghold for Twite with birds regularly noted during this period, no doubt attracted to some degree to the feeding scheme directed towards them.

18th April 2003 A Bar-tailed Godwit.

29th April and 15th May 2003 Ringed Plover, with two on 12th May. Three birds frequented this site on 10th August.

April 2003 Buzzard over.

12th May 2003 One Dunlin and seven there the following day.

15th May 2003 Little Ringed Plover (passage)

16th May 2003 A single Whimbrel flew over.

25th May 2003 A female Common Scoter.

11th August 2003 A Greenshank.

21st June 2003 A Dunlin and one from 19th to 23rd July.

9th December 2003 A Whooper Swan flew over

21st December 2003 A single 'ringtail' Hen Harrier.

Notable Sigtings - 2004

March 2004 Up to 14 Twite in March, one of which had rings indicating it had been ringed at Campfield Reservoir, Lancashire, 18 months previously.

23rd May 2004 Four Dunlin, reducing to two by 27th

May 2004 Up to 10 Wheatear on passage

May 2004 Ring Ouzel on passage

June & July 2004 Post-breeding gathering of Lapwing

9th August 2004 A Greenshank spent three days on the reservoir

Early October 2004 Two Twite

Notable Sigtings - 2005

9th January 2005 A first winter Tundra Bean Goose found with Greylag Geese, was present on and off until 2nd April (PC et al). This constitutes only the third Group record. The bird was assigned to the race A. f. rossicus (Tundra Bean Goose), which is considered by some authorities to constitute a separate species.

11th January 2005 900 Fieldfare in the area.

12th February 2005 Two Shelduck

20th February 2005 200 Golden Plover

3rd March 2005 Seven Skylarks

7th March 2005 & 4th May Twite were seen between these dates, with sightings picking up again between 6th June and 21st July. Most records relate to late March and April, and involved between two and twelve birds, the maximum number being seen on 10th April. A late record involved fourteen birds on 29th August.

15th & 21st April 2005 An Osprey

25th April 2005 A Yellow Wagtail

25th June 2005 A Hobby

7th July 2005 A Little Egret made a brief visit

July 2005 280 Lapwings in post-breeding flock.

3rd October 2005 A flock of 68 Greenfinch.

7th November 2005 First winter Little Gull arrived with Black-headed Gulls, before quickly departing.

10th November 2005 Bewick Swans are increasingly scarce in the area, but this species was seen for the third successive year, when two birds were found at Leeshaw Reservoir on 10th November.

20th November 2004 Four Snow Buntings

2nd December 2005 Ten Teal

27th December 2005 Five Pink-footed Geese