Visible Migration over the Bradford Area.
These pages are for use as a reporting system by those with an active
interest in visible migration of birds and for those developing skills,
as an initial source of reference. One of the other initial aims is to
attempt to induce more local interest in this compulsive birding activity.
For those "new" to it I will in due course be developing a more
generalised Visible Migration section on the main website ( as and when
I have time - much of this work is yet to do) but hope this will do for
now.
Visible Migration is essentially bird movement that can
be counted - e.g. 355 Redwings north-west in 1 hour. It does not include
stopovers of ducks and geese at reservoirs, or falls of night migrants
(warblers and the like) as their migration is mostly invisible. However
these species can still be included as "others" as they are
often indicative of big movements or "falls" and are still of
great interest to the migration watcher.
Where are
we?
The Bradford Ornithological Group recording area is located wholly within
the county of Yorkshire, in central northern England. It is just to the
east side of the Pennine, watershed, the backbone of England and is dissected,
south-east to north-west by the middle reaches of the Yorkshire dales
of river systems (from S to N), Calder, Aire, Wharfe, Washburn and their
tributaries. Airedale and mid Wharfedale form a broad break in the Pennine
chain between east and west. In general terms relative to human habitation,
the designated area contains parts of Bradford, Halifax, Bingley, Ilkley,
Keighley and Otley. It lies to the west of Leeds and east of Skipton.
The route of the Leeds Liverpool Canal along the line of the Aire valley
floor, forms the physical boundary between the old Watsonian Vice County
designations, with VC 64 to the north and VC 63 to the south.
For location plan
see:
Where are we!
And
Topographical Map.
And
General Map