Angler's Country Park

At Wintersett in between New Crofton and Cold Hiendley (countryside location, but signed by brown information signs). Approx 3.5 miles SE of Wakefield as the crow files. 194/195/196 bus route from Wakefield.
Well worth a visit - two hides, one on the main lake, one on a smaller "Pol" lake. 1.5 mile walk around the lake is always worthwhile.

Commoner species include: tufted duck, mallard, coot, cormorant, grey heron, wigeon, goldeneye, great crested grebe, pochard, black headed gull.
Rarer species include: gadwall, smew, bittern, scaup, glaucous gull, iceland gull, slavonian grebe, black necked grebe, water rail.

Pugney's Country Park

J39 of the M1. Take the Wakefield road for half a mile, and it is on the roundabout. There are three lakes - the main reservoir (used for water sports), the nature reserve lake (recommended), and the back lake which also provides access to the river Calder.

Commoner species include: mute swan, canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, coot, cormorant, grey heron, wigeon, great crested grebe, pochard, ruddy duck, black headed gull, lapwing, redshank, goldeneye, teal.
Rarer species include: shoveler, red crested pochard, bittern, kingfisher, common gull, snipe, grey plover, shelduck, iceland gull, smew, glaucous gull, scaup, ferruginous duck,ring necked duck.

Fairburn Ings

Signposted off the A1 approx 3 miles north of Ferrybridge Services (the intersection of the A1 and M62). Drive through the village of Fairburn for approx 1 mile to reach the RSPB car park (no charge). There is a further car park about another mile down the road.

Commoner species include: mute swan, canada goose, tufted duck, mallard,shoveler, marsh tit, great tit, blue tit, coal tit, chaffinch, greenfinch, robin, moorhen, black headed gull, great black backed gull, cormorant.
Rarer species include: little egret, whooper swan, black tern, iceland gull, bittern, smew, pink footed goose.

Newmillerdam

A61, 3 miles south of Wakefield (Barnsley Rd). Nice situation, pleasant stroll, lots of people, mainly common species.

Species include: mute swan, canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, coot, moorhen, grey heron.

Thornes Park

Thornes Road - in between the A636 Denby Dale Rd and Horbury Rd. Lovely City pond, can be positively congested with Canada geese. Plenty of wildlife in the trees and small nature reserve behind the pond too.

Species are: canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, black headed gull, grey heron, moorhen, mallard hybrids, cormorant.

Walton Colliery

Shay Lane (by railway bridge) in between Walton and Crofton. Four stretches of water here, and the Barnsley canal. There is a new hide here, but it will be looking into the sun in the mornings.

Commoner species include: canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, coot, pochard, great crested grebe, black headed gull, grey heron, mute swan.
Rarer species include: water rail, smew.

Southern Washlands

Park Lodge Lane, Eastmoor, Central Wakefield. Be warned - this is not the easiest venue to find, and you may need a map or A-Z. Go to the very end of Park Lodge Lane, and then continue past the "no motorcycles" sign. Go over the canal and then park. This track is very muddy and potholed. You may not wish to park your car here, and walk here instead. There is access from Heath/Kirkthorpe via the Trans Pennine Trail.

Commoner species include: tufted duck, mallard, coot, great crested grebe, black headed gull, mute swan, cormorant, woodland birds.

Wintersett reservoir

Stones throw from Anglers Country Park (above) - the other side of Haw Park Lane. Access available from Ferry Top Lane.

Commoner species include: tufted duck, mallard, coot, cormorant, grey heron, wigeon, goldeneye, great crested grebe, pochard, black headed gull.
Rarer species include: gadwall, smew, bittern, scaup, glaucous gull, iceland gull, slavonian grebe, black necked grebe, water rail.

Ardsley reservoir

Haigh Moor Road, Westerton near East Ardsley. Haigh Moor Rd runs between Batley Rd and Westerton Rd. Haigh Moor Road, Westerton near East Ardsley. Haigh Moor Rd runs between Batley Rd and Westerton Rd. There is a woodland walk around the adjoining Westerton wood. It must be said that this site is not always brimming with birdlife. Yellowhammers a plenty though.

Commoner species include: black headed gull, mallard, moorhen, great crested grebe. Woodland birds in Westerton wood. Rarer species include: glaucous gull, iceland gull.

Bretton Country Park

J38 of M1, Huddersfield Rd, about one mile south of the village of West Bretton. Home of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Commoner species include: canada goose, mallard, black headed gull, grey heron.