A trip to the Dales (Scar house)

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.