Reservoir run

I had a trip around the Oxenhope reservoirs today on a very cold but calm day.

Lower Laithe

A quick stop revealed just the usual small gulls and Mallard as far as I could tell.

It would appear that the roadside reservoir wall has been damaged by a vehicle, probably an accident caused by the bad weather.

Ponden 11:00

5 Moorhen and 2 Pheasant were making the most of a small patch of green grass – the majority of the grass being white here.

A couple more Moorhen also seen lower down  near the Res. exit channel.

Nothing special on the water, small Gulls and Mallards.

A Greylag Goose landed and stayed for 5 mins before leaving – could have been a domesticated one though.

A few geese were near the ‘canoe’ end skating about on the ice.

In the trees at the end there were the usual small birds, Robin, Chaffinch, Blue & Great Tit and Chaffs. Hoping for a Woodpecker or two today but I had no luck.

Leeshaw 12:40

It always seems extra cold here!

It was a bit icy on the track up there, went up forwards then bottled it and came down backwards. Talking, later, to the ‘Water Board Man’ I was told that he had done the same thing there, in a 4X4, the other day so I did not feel too bad.

13 Canada Geese were calling and they took some finding even though they were on the far banking!

2 Cormorant, one on the bank & one on the water. The one on the water seemed to have it’s neck/head held unusually high(maybe it was trying to get a good view of me)!

The usual small gulls and Mallard here as far as I could tell.

Possible Teal on the far bank but it was out of range for the bins.

Also an unid black duck - prob. Muscovy.

Leeming 13:10

75% or so of the water was frozen over with the usual Mallard & Gull species mostly standing on the ice.

One large Gull stood out from the rest though a Herring Gull. My first local Herring Gull.

A half hour stroll around the water and circular footpath through the frozen fields did not reveal much.

A tale from the ‘Water Board Man’ of a special Falcon at Leeshaw last summer was news to me?

Back home the Mistle Thrush was in the tree opposite the house.

Lower Laithe.

Ponden

Leeshaw

First bird at Leeshaw - possibly Greylag Goose?

Oops my little Clio met it's match

Checking the pics I noticed this -

Muscovy most prob.

Leeming