Page 4 - Out Birding Autumn 2023

Event Reports
Please send reports as a Word a􏰀achment or in the body of an email to Pat: pat.cro􏰁on@b􏰂nternet.com
Gouthwaite Reservoir, Nidderdale 25/03/2023
This reservoir is in the beau􏰂ful dale just north of Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire, at the end of which are a couple of isolated hamlets and the single track road leading to Coverdale. I had done a recce of the reservoir the day before and realised that the level was too high to expose the usual mud banks, and there wasn’t much ac􏰂vity. So when seven of us amassed at the viewing point, I knew we would possibly need a plan B. We did have some distant views of Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Buzzard, Goldeneye, and various other waterfowl, but a􏰁er a short while we discussed op􏰂ons, top of which was to carry on up the dale in pursuit of Ring Ouzel.
This valley in Nidderdale has a series of reservoirs, each becoming ever higher and more remote. The lowest, Gouthwaite, was begun in 1893, not to provide drinking water, but as a compensa􏰂on reservoir to make sure the numerous mills downstream were adequately fed. It’s now an SSSI. Yorkshire Water opened up the access road to Scar House reservoir many years ago, and it makes a beau􏰂ful drive, with superb views from the top. This was the last of the three reservoirs to be built, star􏰂ng in 1921. Above it is an older and smaller reservoir, Angram, which, like Scar House was built to provide water to Bradford. This was our des􏰂na􏰂on.
I knew that we would be too early for the numerous migrants which make their way to the dense woodland below the spectacular Scar House dam wall, such as Spo􏰀ed Flycatcher, House Mar􏰂n or Wood Warbler, but the group enjoyed the wonderful views and seeing this spot, part of the Nidderdale AONB, for the first 􏰂me. On the surrounding moors we spo􏰀ed Wheatear, in full song. There were also Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatchers displaying. We caught a distant Ring Ouzel, and another as we walked back over the dam, so it was well worth the extra drive up the valley.
It was pre􏰀y chilly though, so a􏰁er a picnic lunch in the shelter, we drove down to Pateley Bridge, parked up and walked along the Nidd that flows through the town. This is a lovely flat walk right by the river, leading to the water mill at Glasshouses. A millpond and race were excavated in the 1850s, with the wealthy Metcalfe family pu􏰃ng an island in the middle for music and fireworks (!). This elaborate water body now provides a great home for wildlife, though we didn’t see the kingfisher that is o􏰁en there. Coot and Cormorant were about all we saw, but everyone agreed it had been a wonderful introduc􏰂on to the scenery of Nidderdale, and a spot to return to when spring is in full swing.
Rachael
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