We decided to have a ride over to the Dales this morning, along Gouthwaite Reservoir and onto
Scar House Reservoir,it was a bit cloudy but no rain, the roads along this stretch remind me of
some in Scotland, but with less passing places, as we got to Lofthouse, we noticed some notices
saying beware of walkers, we turned into the rd leading up to Scar house,at the side of the road
some people sat with table and drinks, with a big notice "Nidderdale Charity Walk" trust us to go on
a day when the annual walk with hundreds taking place, reaching the car park it was almost full of mini
buses and cars, not to worry, we parked and set off along the edge of the reservoir, keeping our eyes peeled to the
rock formation which is normally where you get ring ouzels, but sadly not today, all the people must have moved them,
but we had wheatear, swallows flying all over with Martins skimming over the water, a Kestrel hovering over the fields,
after a cup of coffee and a bun, we drove down the rd very slowly as it was full of volunteers pushing disabled folk along the walk
which was lovely to see, as we drove through the oak woods, I had a redstart,, sat on a branch, we decided to go up and over the moors
to Masham calling in at Nosterfield, which was also very busy, but we had Egyptian goose, Avocets, then at the scrape we had a lovely
garden warbler singing its heart out, the sun by this time was out and getting very hot, but as we headed back home we were well pleased
with our Dales visit, and another three birds to our list. the shot of the swallows shows the difference in the sex's by the tail length.
To each their own
Hope you ad a visa to trespass up there Nighthawk looked decent weather for a change up there
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
At least I wasn't the only one to miss out on the Ring Ouzels this week : -)
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Yes always take some ID up the dales Pete them border guards can be very funny, I am sure I could hear an ouzel calling, but there was that many people about very difficult, but I heard a crossbill calling from near the dam so was well pleased, its a brilliant part of the world, and on a normal day you can forget all your worries, keep trying Galatas, end of June should be good.
Our local club is having a trip up there on Sat. morning no wonder we are getting hailstones !!