Sunday, 6 January 2019

Whiteholme Reservoir (Littleborough) / Soil Hill

Sue took Abi swimming to Spenborough baths this morning. So with some free time I thought I go for a drive towards Littleborough.

Whiteholme Reservoir 9:50 - 11:20

A pleasant morning here in Bradshaw mild with some brightness.
The long moorland road up from Ripponden to Backstone Edge Res. became more and more dull and then very foggy.
I parked on waste ground, below the White House Inn and told myself that the fog would lift.

A good clog along the bridleway to Whitehome 'saw' visibility down to 50 yards.
At least I set a new personal birding record - not one bird seen - not one in near 2 hours.
A real waste of time, boot leather and petrol!

Amazingly I counted 36 people, in total, out walking along the way! Well I had to count something.
One guy had set his camera gear up at the side of Blackstone Edge Reservoir - looking for the perfect atmospheric photograph.

Soil Hill 13:00 - 14:30.

Back home the brightness was fast disappearing so I gave Soil Hill a go, trying to salvage something from the day.
Bands of low cloud came and went but it was not too bad overall.
I did get two 2019 ticks with 16 Meadow Pipit, on the hill and 23 Fieldfare, seen from Taylor Lane.

Apart from these, there was a large flock of Starling, seen from Taylor Lane. Also a Pheasant, Wren, Mallard and Kestrel on offer with small numbers of Black Headed, Common and Herring Gulls.











2 comments:

  1. We used to have a Twite feeding area at the roundhouse at Whiteholme. It turns up some cracking birds there but it's a long treck from the White House and often nothing doing when you get there. Always a chance of a Snow Bunt along the track as well. Shame about the fog !!!

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  2. I thought maybe Water Pipit might turn up - not far from Green Withins,(as the Pipit flies)?

    John

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