The Lonely Duck

13:00 – 16:00

We enjoyed a run out to the White House pub on the hill above Hollingworth Lake this aft. for a snack and a short walk along the Pennine Way.

Either my appetite is waning or the meal portions are getting bigger because I struggled to clear my plate of hot roast beef sandwich, salad and chips. Very nice pub grub with good view over the moors.

The walk started in beautiful sunshine but the dreaded rain clouds appeared after 40 mins or so, so we turned back and arrived back at the car just before a torrential downpour – phew! It knew how to rain today, we just missed another downpour when we visited Sainsbury’s later.

The views and scenery on the walk were great but the reservoirs were very, very quiet.

The first reservoir that we passed , Black Stone Edge was completely void of birds on the outward journey and held 3 squawking Carrion Crow and a couple of ducks (Mallard I think) on the return journey. 

The dark clouds made the picture quality very poor.

From Blackstone edge to Lighthazzels Reservoir we were rewarded with 2 calling Raven although Sue maintained that the second Raven sighting, was the same bird as the first! 

A Kestrel very kindly sat on some tall rocks to allow a half-decent photo. 

A second Kestrel was on the rocks, near the pub, on our return.

There was just one lonely duck on Lighthazzels, this duck being in its first year, by the looks of it – possibly a Teal but I am by no means convinced.

Any comments on the duck's I.D. would be most welcome.

Along the route there were two groups of Goldfinch of c30 and c15 and 7 or so Meadow Pipit.

I was hoping to see an Owl or Twite but I had no luck today.

The black rain clouds curtailed the walk somewhat making us decide to turn back soon after reaching Warland Reservoir.

Here again the water was bird less and although there is quite a good amount of peaty shoreline nothing was proddling about that I could see.

I would have liked to spend a few hours walking here - maybe another day.

Coming home near Baitings 4 Heron flew overhead - I was hoping they were Pinkies.

Pool/Snooker this evening - hope I do better than last week!

Goldfinch but first bird maybe not?

A few pics of a lonely duck - Teal perhaps

Some nice colours about

Nearest I came to Twite - the poster.

4 Vulcan Bombers