13 members attended this field meeting starting at Gouthwaite reservoir. As I arrived a Mistle Thrush was singing from a tree top and a Red Kite flew over. On the water there were 21 Teal, a small number of Mallard, Greylags and Canada Geese. Two pairs of Greylags had one gosling each. The water level was a lot lower than two weeks ago revealing lots of mud. Gulls present in small numbers were Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed. Waders on the muddy edges included Lapwings, Redshanks, 25 Oystercatchers and a Common Sandpiper. Three Little-ringed Plover and two Ringed Plovers were on the mud away from the waters edge. Three Ravens were being mobbed by Carrion Crows over a small conifer wood further along the road. We walked along the road to the Northerly viewing area where we overlooked a large area of water with 12 pairs of Shelducks, Canada Geese and 77 Oystercatchers resting on the shore with a Redshank and a Common Sandpiper. Along with a Red Kite, five Common Buzzards were seen overhead and over the far side ridge. Several Willow Warblers and Chaffinches were in the waterside trees and up to six Swallows were seen during the morning.
We then headed to Scar House. We stopped at Lofthouse fire station and checked the River Nidd from the bridge. No Dipper but we did find two Grey Wagtails collecting food on the rocks in the river. Two Curlews flew over. Further up the road at the “tunnel” we saw one female Pied Flycatcher. A member also spotted a male Pied Flycatcher here on the return journey from Scar House. A Nuthatch was heard calling which eventually showed, sunning itself on the top of a small tree. A Great, a Coal and a Blue Tit were in the area with a Chiffchaff and a Robin.
We then moved up to Scar House car park for our lunch and scan the hillside for Ring Ouzels without success. Two distant Wheatears were seen. There were Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and a Robin around the car park and a Meadow Pipit was seen on the hillside.
Across the reservoir dam we found three male Ring Ouzels feeding on the grassy hillside with two Wheatears. In another sheep field there was a pair of Wheatears, the female was collecting sheep wool nesting material. A Sparrowhawk flew across with some prey in it’s talons (probably a Pipit) being chased by four Meadow Pipits. Eight Oystercatchers were on the far shore of the reservoir and a lone Mallard was the only bird on the water.
On the way back down the Scar House road we stopped at a second Pied Flycatcher site. A male gave brief views and a Treecreeper was seen feeding on one of the tree trunks.
Thanks to all those who attended.
Our species total for the day was a low 50 species. See the separate bird list.
Mike Smithson
