Sadly the time has now come for our Fairburn webcam to be switched off.

Below is some information about the RSPB reserve.

The Fairburn Ings RSPB Nature Reserve near Castleford covers 700 acres (286ha) and includes open water, marshland, wet meadows and small areas of reed bed.

The reserve is an ideal place to see waterbirds at close quarters throughout the year. In winter the large numbers of wildfowl include up to 100 whooper swans and in summer breeding waders include redshanks, snipe and lapwings.

In spring and autumn, migrants such as black terns, little gulls and yellow wagtails may call in.

The webcam pictures will showed a range of our most popular garden visitors, as well as willow tits and the occasional tree sparrow.

Both of these birds were ‘red listed’ as being of high conservation concern in the Population Status of Birds in the UK survey published in 2002.

But, despite their scarcity, the willow tit and tree sparrow are part of the wide diversity of wildlife which can be found at Fairburn Ings throughout the year.

In fact, Fairburn boasts the biggest list of bird species for any inland site in the country, with 274 species recorded so far.