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. A nesting site for sand martins has been built.

The Waterton Countryside Discovery centre is located here. Named after the 19th century naturalist Charles Waterton, entry is free, and it contains displays about the countryside and conservation issues.

Common 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.

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

Pugneys country park was opened in 1985, and was formerly open cast mining and quarrying. The main lake is 100 acres in size, and the circular walk around the lake is approx 1.5 miles.

Common species include: mute swan, canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, coot, cormorant, grey heron, wigeon, great crested grebe, pochard, black headed gull, lapwing, redshank.

Rarer species include: shoveler, red crested pochard, kingfisher, common gull, snipe, long tailed duck, goldeneye, teal, ruddy duck, grey plover, shelduck, iceland gull, smew, glaucous gull, scaup, ferruginous duck,ring necked duck. Sightings of the rare bittern have been known.

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

Wintersett reservoir was built in 1854 to feed the Barnsley canal. There are plenty areas of interest between the reservoir and Walton, including walks in Haw Park Wood, the Heronry and past Walton Hall (Waterton Park Hotel).

A leaflet "Waterton Trail" has been produced by Wakefield council. It features 4 walks, and can be downloaded here. Search "Waterton Trail".

Common 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.

J39 of M1, head towards Wakefield on the A639 Denby Dale Road, and the lakes are behind the Swan and Cygnet pub, extending towards the M1. Pleasant walks by the river Calder too.

If you follow the river towards Horbury. Pass under the M1, you will reach the dark passage over the water (near the Navigation pub). It is underneath the railway bridge, and a bit creepy (see pic to left). If brave enough, it takes you to the other side of the river and the Millfield Lagoons, which are either side of the M1, and can be seen clearly from the motorway.

Screening work has been undertaken in early 2011 (see final photo). Also two 'open-plan' bird hides have been added (May 12).

Species include: canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, coot, wigeon, goosander, great crested grebe, pochard, black headed gull, herring gull.

This reserve is located between Eastmoor and Heath in Wakefield. This is not the easiest venue to find, and there are not many people around.

Access from Eastmoor: 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.

Access from Heath (where car parking is available): head towards Kirkthorpe, and there is a major path on the left just before you reach the place-name sign for Kirkthorpe. This path drops downhill and takes you to an information board and map.

In June you will be able to see Common Spotted Orchids and Southern Marsh Orchids in the Ashfields area (see information boards). They grow right next to the main paths.

A leaflet "Southern Washlands Nature Corridor" has been produced by Wakefield council. It features 4 walks, and can be downloaded here. Search "Southern Washlands".

This area was quarried for sand and gravel from the 1950's until 1971 when the quarry was blown up. This caused some alarm in the area has residents had not been told about the impending explosion.

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

The reservoir is on Haigh Moor road at East Ardsley (M1 J39). Haigh Moor Rd runs between Batley Rd and Westerton Rd. There is a woodland walk around the adjoining Westerton wood (last two photos). It must be said that this site is not always brimming with birdlife. Yellowhammers a plenty though.

There is a circular walk of about a mile around the reservoir. It is flat albeit a little bumpy as you would expect. I would say that it was suitable for pushchairs and children's bikes. However, this location is quite exposed, and can be quite windy.

There is a free car park, which is very welcome. This is a very popular location for dog walking - whether it be for one lap or two!

Common species include: black headed gull, lesser black-back gull, herring gull, cormorant, mallard, moorhen, great crested grebe. Woodland birds in Westerton wood.

Rarer species include the rarer gulls such as glaucous gull and iceland gull.

Shay Lane (by railway bridge) in between Walton and Crofton. Four areas of water here, and part of the Barnsley canal. There was a new hide here, but it seems to have disappeared (Aug 2010).

Although work has been underway for some years developing the site to what it is today, it was only designated as a nature reserve in 2008.

The Henry Daley memorial garden (the 'spikes') is hidden in the middle of the Nature Park (if you can find it!).

This is a good area for wild flowers. The reserve has several distinct habitats, each with their own flaura.

Common 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.

The last photo shows a map of the nature park.

J38 of M1, Huddersfield Rd, about one mile south of the village of West Bretton.

Bretton Country park includes 500 acres of lakes and parkland, landscaped in the style of Capability Brown, and is the home of several endangered species.

It is the home of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, with its many outdoor sculptures - a number by locally born Henry Moore. It is an international centre for modern and contemporary art, with a programme of international exhibitions.

There are plenty of herons that nest in the trees in (or near) the main lake.

There is a car park, but it is a complete rip-off at 4 pounds.

Common species include: canada goose, mallard, black headed gull, grey heron, treecreeper, goldeneye, pochard, teal, goosander, wigeon, grey wagtail, yellow wagtail.

Rarer species include: pintail, smew, kingfisher, water rail.

A61, 3 miles south of Wakefield (Barnsley Rd). Nice situation, pleasant stroll, lots of people, mainly common species. An arboretum is being managed here - take the steep climb uphill from the car park, rather than the lakeside path. Walking in this direction will also take you to the disused railway line (the Chevet branch line which closed in 1968), which leads towards Notton and Royston.

Easy walk of about a mile around the lake and across the causeway (suitable for push chairs).

Newmillerdam lake is part of the old Chevet Estate occupied by Chevet Hall. In 1954, Wakefield council bought the site, and opened it to the public in 1956. The boathouse is a Grade II Listed building.

There are also two public houses that serve food - the Fox and Hounds and the Dam Inn (Toby Carvery).

Species include: mute swan, canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, coot, moorhen, grey heron, black headed gull, goosander, nuthatch.

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 area behind the pond too.

The birds are quite tame and trusting, and you can get some good photographic shots. There is a new aviary, which was opened in November 2010. Current species include exotic pheasants and quails, zebra finches, cockatiels, canaries and lovebirds.

Wakefield's formal gardens are here, as is the old Gardener's House (pictured left). The lake and gardens were part of Thornes House, which was built in 1782, but was unfortunately burnt down in 1951, possibly as the result of a discarded cigarette.

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