Thornton Moor Reservoir is one of the key watch sites in our area.  The site is private and is not designated open country or access land.  Access is strictly limited to permit pass carrying B.O.G. members. Keys and pass  (to be shown on demand) are available to all Group members.  There is a hide, specifically designed for telescopes, a small car park and a log-book is kept on the site. Cars must not be parked on the private approach road.

An area of heathland has been developed and is now beginning to get established.  Over the last few years a migration watch-point has been established at the site and maintained when possible throughout the seasons.

Thornton Moor is the most north-eastern outpost of the South Pennine moorland block and is both geographically and topographically strategic relative to bird migration.  The reservoir is situated at 1241ft. (378.25m.) above sea level and is perched high on the south flank of the Aire Valley at the interface between the in-bye and moorland (in winter you need a very big coat!).  The South Pennine SPA is immediately adjacent. The site has extensive open aspects from west, round through north over the Aire Gap, 225° to south-east.   Immediately to the south west stands Hambleton Top some 1370ft. (418m.) above sea level.

Its elevated situation on the scarp of Hambleton Top, together with its relationship to the heads of the Leeming Water and Harden Beck valleys, are probably contributory factors to the passage migration apparent.  The site is
also close to the Causeway Foot and Nab Water cols, both of which assist passage south over the Aire-Calder watershed.  These cols are prominent features when viewed from many miles to the north.

The small, isolated wood at the caretaker’s house adjacent, whilst private is an important focus for some of the migrants as they fly over, but there Is little shelter or long-term food to assist or hold them down.

During the migration seasons there is a very low to none-existent background population of resident passerines at the site, which together with the Open aspect, makes it ideal for recording the visible migration.

If you would like to visit, you are very welcome but please become a member of the Bradford Ornithological Group and complete the appropriate paperwork first. Our membership secretary will be eager to help and then a necessary visit to one of our Group meetings will enable you to get the paperwork in place - and then you can visit!

And finally we must express our utmost gratitude to YORKSHIRE WATER for their assistance and for allowing us to develop this invaluable facility at this important site.