10 members started at Gouthwaite car park. Song and Mistle Thrushes were singing from the tree tops. In the trees and hedges there were Chaffinches, a Wren, Blackcap, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Goldfinches. From the viewing screen we could see Canada and Greylag Geese, a small number of Tufted Ducks, Teal, Mallard, a Moorhen and a drake Goldeneye on the water. The only wader habitat was on the far bank. We could see five Common Sandpipers, Oystercatchers, two Ringed Plover and Lapwings. Three Great Crested Grebes were further down the reservoir and four Little Grebes were keeping close to the Willow Trees taking over the muddy shallows to our left. Three Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew in and landed on the water joining the few Black-headed Gulls already here. Jackdaws, Carrion Crows and Woodpigeons were in the general area. Numerous Sand Martins and two Swallows were feeding over the water.
From the viewing area along the road we found a flock of 30 Oystercatchers, a Redshank, two Curlews, more geese and Lapwings, a Pied Wagtail and eight Shelduck. From here we could see two Herons on two nests in a conifer on the far bank. In the fields across the road there were two more Curlew, two Pheasants and a pair of Shelduck flew in. Above the fields over the ridge four Buzzards were soaring plus a hovering Kestrel.
On the Scar House reservoir road we stopped to have a look from the small bridge at Lofthouse for Dippers. We only saw a Grey Wagtail collecting food. A Blackcap, Nuthatch and Blue Tits were in the trees calling. A member who stopped at the Well junction did see a Dipper below Gouthwaite reservoir. On to the “tunnel” we looked for Pied Flycatchers with only a female being seen by one member. Here we did see or hear Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Wren, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch and Blackcap. Two Red Kite and Jackdaws were over the hillside. Further along the road two Red-legged Partridges were seen in the fields before we reached the car park for our lunch while we scanned the hillside for Ring Ouzels. A Red Kite and Jackdaws were over the hillside but we didn’t see any Ring Ouzels. We eventually found two Wheatears and two Meadow Pipits.
We then walked across the dam. A Siskin, Willow Warblers, Coal Tit and a great Tit were seen in the conifers. I had a brief view of a Redstart before it was lost to view on the ground. Over the water two Common Sandpipers flew around. A flock of 13 Oystercatchers were resting on the bank before flying over the dam down the valley. Two Mallards were on the water and three Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over and up the valley. At the far side of the dam we still didn’t find any Ring Ouzels but we did find two Redshanks, two Wheatears and a Curlew.
On our drive back down the road we stopped at the Summerstone Estate to look for Pied Flycatchers. Two males and a female were seen in a tree next to the road giving very good views in the sunshine. On the river we saw a Mandarin Duck drake. In the trees were a Blackcap and a Nuthatch.
This was our last stop of the day after a good day out, finding 56 species.
Mike Smithson
All photos by Mike Smithson