SE215525
Specialities |
| Short-eared Owl |
| Golden Plover |
| Buzzard |
| Snipe |
| Fieldfare |
| Redwing |
| Grey Partridge |
| Tree Pipit |
| Spotted Flycatcher |
| Redpoll |
| Stonechat |
Large
Golden Plover flock at Sandwith Moor |
Sandwith Moor is a stretch of upland west of the road from Leathley to Beckwithshaw (B6161) and east of the road from Farnley to Norwood (B6451). The area is bounded by Haverah Park to the north and Stainburn Forest to the south. Norwood Lane cuts across the moor giving easy access. The highest point is at 247 metres where a parking area allows for good viewing over the rough pasture and moorland. A large swathe of Stainburn Forest has recently been felled and this may provide a habitat for a range of interesting species in the next few years. Wintering Fieldfare and Redwing gather in this plantation during the winter months. The rough pasture land has always been a good place to see large flocks of Golden Plover which gather in late winter and early spring before dispersal. Stonechat are often seen on the roadside walls of Norwood Lane and a variety of birds of prey can often be seen feeding over the moorland.
Notable
Sightings - 2003 |
| February 2003 12 Snipe. |
| March 2003 Up to 250 Golden Plover and a peak of 540 on 10th April. |
| 14th September 2003 A Yellow Wagtail. |
| 17th November 2003 Golden Plover, 400 on 7th December and 100 on 17th December. |
| 21st December 2003 The only record of Common Redpoll concerned six birds seen feeding in alders with Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin by the small pool on the northern edge of Sandwith Moor Plantation |
| December 2003 20 Grey Partridge |
Notable
Sightings - 2004 |
| Winter 2004 Stonechat in Norwood Lane |
| 2nd February 2004 300 Fieldfares |
| 11th February 2004 Eight Waxwing roosted in Sandwith Plantation. |
| 14th February 2004 600 Golden Plover |
| 27th October 2004 1200 Wood Pigeon heading east |
| 27th October 2004 2200 Fieldfares roosting in Plantation. |
| 4th November 2004 3000 Redwings roosting in Sandwith Plantation |
| December 2004 30 Waxwings went into the plantation to roost. |
Notable
Sightings - 2005 |
| 29th April 2005 At least 3000 Golden Plover. This is a welcome return to form for this area, and the total is a record one, though, intriguingly, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that as many as 8000 birds might have been present around that time! |
| 29th October 2005 100 Golden Plover |