I was given a free birding pass today with Sue having other priorities.
I took the opportunity to drive over to Whiteholme Reservoir.
The drive is a long one but I always enjoy the walk across the moorland on the good track to Whitehome - well nearly always.
I parked a little way down the Mytholmroyd "wavy" M1 road in a layby of sorts.
Today the weather was exceptionally cold for late April.
Having not seen many birds on the walk along the track, I was looking forward to eyeballing the reservoir area.
The water is very, very high and a long leisurely walk along the west side was really disappointing.
While I sat behind the "stone tower thing" at the far end (trying to keep warm, while scoffing my delicious butties of ham, tomato and mustard - made with my fair hand ) I wondered "what am I doing here" having not seen a Wader,
A very faint call might have been a Redshank and might not have been!
I was going to retrace my steps to the car, but I decided to turn the "birding walk" into just a "walk to warm up", so I set off in a light sleet shower along the west path that loops round south and then south east to end up at Blackstone Edge Reservoir.
This turned out to be a good move.
Soon after leaving the reservoir I thought I heard a Twite call but I did not see the bird(s).
I know from the Calderdale grapevine that there are a few Twite hereabouts so the call was encouraging.
When I arrived at Blackstone Edge Reservoir I heard Twite calls nearby and I was very, very lucky to see two Twite here - bingo - a first for me in Calderdale, although I've seen Twite before, mostly at the coast.
The birds were quite kind, landing nearby, disappearing but returning a few times.
A memorable outing.
Birds:-
Whiteholme Reservoir.
(Tough Going).
2 Skylark, Meadow Pipits, 2 Raven, 2 Red Grouse.
1 Stonechat.
Possible Redshank (heard).
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
2 Mallard.
4 Canada Geese.
Blackstone Edge Reservoir.
2 Twite.
3 Wheatear.
Nice to see huggings of Meadow Pipits along the walk.
Curlew.
4 Common Sandpiper.
Drake Teal - very distant.
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