During the 1970s 80s and 90s a lot of my birding time was spend down Elland Gravel Pits which was a haven for birds being very near undisturbed with the public, acres of untouched undergrowth and a good expanse of muddy shored open water . All that plus the river, canal, ski lake and fishermans lake, the birding was ideal and by far the best lowland site in the area. At this time it fell into both Bradford and Halifaxs recording areas. Two cooling towers overlooked the gravel pits and below the towers there was a large area known as the low fields which was a serious of ponds and wetland surrounded by marshes and nearby was an open landfill site which was a gull watchers paradise.
I,ve put together a well cropped version of an idea what birding was like through the months of the 1990s.
JANUARY
Always up to 5 Water Rail present mainly around the steel bridge near to the weir staying throughout winter. Goldeneye and Cormorants always present and a hot spot for Goosander, I once had a count of 24m 29f. The 12th 1997 produced 2 red head Smew and a female Scaup on the ski lake.
The 10th 1999 produced a red head Red Breasted Merganser. Teal and Oystercatchers were also present.
FEBRUARY
Always tit flocks present with record counts of Long Tailed Tits as well as Treecreepers, Chaffinch and Bullfinch flocks with Goldcrests along the canal banking whilst not unusual to have a Firecrest show up.
MARCH
A good month for waterfowl with Gt Crested and Little Grebe along with Pochard and Wigeon.
A Peregrine , or sometimes 2 were always to be found on the cooling towers whilst on the 10th 1996 a Kittiwake turned up on the ski lake.
APRIL
Warblers start to arrive with Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, although some Chiffchaffs over wintered here and a Siberian Chiffchaff was found on the canal bank but the date escapes me.
Swallows arrive in vast numbers whilst Brambling could usually be found in with the large flocks of Siskin and Redpoll in Alders along the canal bank near to the Avocet building.
A highlight on the 30th 1995 JB waved me to cross the river to him where he had a LEO in his scope in a nearby holly bush.
MAY
Most of the warblers back by now with several Whitethroat, Blackcap Garden Warbler etc whilst waders were arriving with Common Sandpipers on the lagoon area. A surprise arrival in 1990 causing a mega twitch was a Spotted Sandpiper which stayed around a week and even tried mating with a Common Sandpiper.
Yellowhammers were holding territory near to the weir around the railway lines. This was one of the last strongholds for this species. They slowly dwindled down to 1 pair before disappearing.
JUNE
Hectic this month dominated by warblers with all the usual species as well as Sedge Warblers in every area, and Lesser Whitethroats were a common sight, a bird that is near extinct around this area now.
Kingfishers could always be found along the canal whilst on the 29th 1997 an Arctic Tern was over the ski lake.
JULY
A quieter month with birds busy breeding but the river always provided Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Little Grebe, Goosander etc whilst Common Tern could usually be found over the ski lake.
AUGUST
The fishermans lake always had good numbers of Teal, Tufted and Mallard along with Gt Crested Grebe, Mute Swan and Common Sandpiper. The ,now private lake, could, at this time be walked around.
SEPTEMBER
This was a good time to cross the road and walk up Plains Lane to the wood were Peter Martin had several nest boxes that had been used and sightings of Green, Gt Spotted and Lesser Woodpeckers could be found along with Yellowhammers and all the usual woodland birds.
Buzzards were a common sight overhead soaring over Park Wood . More excitement and another twitch back at the ski lake on the 29th 1996 with a Shag on the boat ramp which stayed around a few days until the 6th Oct.
OCTOBER
Another good month for waterfowl with Whoopers coming and going on the ski lake as well as Goldeneye and large numbers of Tufted duck. The canal towards the weir was always good for several Mandarin duck.
NOVEMBER
This month was mostly spent sky watching for Pink Footed geese over as well as keeping an eye on the low fields where double figures of Common Snipe were always present and Jack Snipe could usually be found. Water Rail were very active along the river banks from the weir down to the steel bridge.
DECEMBER
Gulls dominated this month, especially when the land fill site was still in use with several hundred Herring gulls on the water as well as LBBs and small gulls whilst Great Black Backed could always be picked out. Caspians, Meds, Glaucous and Icelands were just a myth at this time with very few people having the knowledge or information to look for them or never even expecting to see one.
Another month of double figures of Goosander on the canal and river whilst on the 7th 1997 another red head Red Breasted Merganser turned up, again on the ski lake whilst the waterside trees and bushes were full of Fieldfare and Redwing. Wigeon kept appearing on the ski lake.
Happy memories of birding EGP.
BS