Mrs.S took me for a ride to one of our favourite birding areas today, Scar House Reservoir at the head of Nidderdale.We were supposed to be looking for Spring visitors but it was blooming nithering up there certainly not spring like .From the the car park we could hear two Ring Ouzels calling from the rocks on the hillside and managed to spot one with the bins and eventually got the little beauty in the scope.Walking over the dam we found about ten House Martins,our first of the year,rebuilding last years nests on the tower of the reservoir dam.At an altitude of over 1000 ft it was not the sort of spot you would normally look for these birds but there is a successful little colony there every year.The moorland at the far side gave us great views of Meadow Pipit carrying food to the nest and Wheatear bobbing in and out of the old Rabbit hole nests.All this within my limited walking range and finishing off with coffee and cake in the newly opened cafe in one of the old reservoir buildings,that fresh air up there is great and should keep me going for a day or two.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Well done Pete. As you know Ring Ouzels have defied me so far. I'm envious :-)
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Yeah,good job we have not put the winter gear away.
Glad you had a good day Pete, even if it has been nippy! Its been non stop rain where I am!
Cheers, Jason
A walk with birds, scenery and a cafe - what could be nicer. It's been colder here too and showery so it's good to hear you had a trip out.
Sounded like you had a great day Seaman albeit a little bracing in this unseasonable weather ! It's been raining here much of the day here in Cheshire and very dark and gloomy for taking photographs, as you say, not like springtime at all so let's hope we get some sort of summer. You certainly spotted some lovely species at Scar House Reservoir and very interesting to hear about the nesting House Martins up there.
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Regards, Hazel
Going on an early (ish) morning trip tomorrow to Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale looking for Garden and Wood Warblers,Mrs S is getting me out birding as much as poss this week before I start treatment on Friday as I may not be up to much then but we shall see.
Pete, Nice day and some good sightings. I hope you can get back out there soon. I admit to being jealous today. Within 5 minutes I got a call about a gannet on a lake 5 miles from where I live and a honey buzzard at Cotswold Water Park; but where was I - 30 miles away at Malvern Flower Show and it was raining.
The Cotswold Water park sightings website
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Hope you have a good day out tomorrow and best wishes for Friday, Seaman!
This mornings trip out was totally different,a gentle riverside walk with the Dusky Bluebell cafe half way for coffee and curd tart to fortify us for the return trip,sounds like a bit of a trek but it was only a couple of miles.Blackcaps,Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were everywhere as were Swifts,Swallows and both House and a couple of Sand Martins feeding low over the river.Our plan was to add some more birds to our year list and new on the list and we managed four new ones,Pied Flycatcher,Garden Warbler,Redstart and Stonechat all nice birds to see as well all the usual woodland species like Nuthatch and Treecreeper.For us I tink the highlight was maybe standing on Barden Bridge watching a pair of Grey Wagtails carrying food into the nest,a sure sign they had young.For me it was a tiring morning but well worth the extra pain killers.The woodland around the area of Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale is a great place for birding at any time of year but maybe best avoided at summer weekends if you like your birding a bit on the quiet side as weekends can be very busy but we think it is one of the best birding spots in the Dales.
Unknown said: but don't overdo it.
No chance Mrs S makes sure of that not even allowed to carry scope and tripod !!