St Patrick’s Day Reservoir Run.

It was a beautiful sunny day with the temperature reaching 10 degrees according to the car but in the sun it felt like 16 degrees.

I was on the lookout for Wheatear but they were not looking out for me.

10:15

My first stop was at Marsh, Oxenhope where there were 99 Golden Plover (ok there could have been 100) sitting very settled in the usual field together with a few Lapwing and a couple of Pied Wagtail.

Lower Laithe

A quick stop at Lower Laithe on the way to Ponden revealed c60 Gulls, 2 Oystercatcher and 4 Canada Geese.

10:40 Ponden

I thought I’d give Ponden a try, having omitted it on the last few reservoir runs because of all the work going on.

There was still plenty of work being done, repairs to the slipway apparently.

Birds:

Pied Wagtail, Moorhen, 4 Oystercatcher in the fields with c40 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 10 Canada Geese, Pheasant, Long Tailed Tit, 4 Greylag Geese and 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull.

Leeshaw 12:00

Leeshaw looked very pretty and it was WARM here – a rare event.

Lots of flies about all of a sudden.

I had a chat with a young lad, who had run 15 miles (so far) from Bradshaw.

He took the Bridleway that leads over the moor towards Hebden Bridge.

I don’t know how far he was running in total, but it put my hikes to shame – however he was over 40 years younger than me.

There were plenty of birds moving about – Canada Geese coming and going to and from the fields with Greylag Geese doing the same, making plenty of noise as well.

I was hoping for Redshank but did not see one.

2 Unid's looking like BHG yet the colour is different to the BHG in the foreground - could be a trick of the light or a different bird altogether - pity the birds are so distant.
Possibly female Goosander??

Birds:

4 Curlew, Many, Many Lapwing – could not estimate the numbers as they were constantly moving out of sight. 16 Greylag Geese, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 LBBG, 8 Canada Geese, c 230 Small Gulls, Pheasant, 2 Pied Wagtail, Red Grouse calling from the moor, Grey Wagtail, Cormorant.

13:15 Leeming

I was hoping the muddy section of path might have dried up but it needs a few more dry days yet!

As well as the usual circuit I headed onto the moor towards Thornton Moor Reservoir on the lookout for Wheatear. 

I’ve seen them up on the moor, here, previously but not today.

Birds:

Grey Wagtail, 7 Canada Geese, Curlew calling from Thornton Moor, c70 Small Gulls, 10 Mallard, Pheasant, Long Tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail Pr. Goosander relaxing on the small pond at the southern end of the path. 2 Moorhen,  Mistle Thrush.

I seem to have gone a bit bonkers with the number of photos!!

Marsh Fields:

 Lower Laithe:

Ponden:

Spot the Long Tailed tit

Leeshaw:

A BHG and a Mystery Bird

BHG and 2 unknown

Leeming:

Looking North West (ish) from Leeming