Farnley Reservoir is only 1 mile in circumference and is situated at the junction of Tong Road and the A6110 Leeds Outer Ring-Road. Considering its location, at the side of one of Leeds busiest roads, the reservoir can attract good numbers of birds. The brief visit of an Osprey in 2002 proves that any site, no matter how small, can attract exciting birds. There is also a good footpath around the reservoir which makes the site ideal for disabled birders.

Summer

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and some years Pochard Breed here. The site allows you to get close to the birds and offers excellent views of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins as they hunt for insects over the lake. In some weather conditions, usually after some overnight rain, hundreds of Swifts come to feed very low over the reservoir. If you come early morning and stand on the dam wall they will give you incredible views as they fly very close to your head! Common Terns and Black Terns are occasionally seen in Spring migration while Arctic Terns are usually seen on Autumn migration. Common Sandpipers are regular visitors on both Spring and Autumn migration. Kingfishers can be seen diving for food along the edge of the lake and Noctule Bats can be seen hawking over the reservoir just before sunset.

Winter

Farnley reservoir is at its best in the winter months when it becomes home to good numbers of Tufted Duck, Pochard, Teal. Smaller numbers of Goosander and the occasional Goldeneye are also here at this time. During the winter months wildfowl change into their breeding plumage and this offers you the chance to see the birds at their very best.

Other birds seen at the reservoir are: Slavonian Grebe, Smew, Common Scoter, Scaup and Garganey and, when the water levels get really low and a little mud begins to show: Dunlin, Redshank, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers.

Rarest Bird - Osprey - One bird briefly in September 2002

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