Grimwith Reservoir

Cazzie · #1 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 02:06 PM

Hi all!

A few days ago T2 gave me the 'heads-up' about a large reservoir near me that I'd completely forgotten about - Grimwith Reservoir near Hebden Bridge. So seeing as I was at a loose end yesterday I took myself off for the day!

It's HUGE!

infact it's so big I couldn't get it all in one shot lol!

I'd guess it's about 4 miles to walk round so here's a few pics...

Now I know this pic of greylag geese is rubbish (they were all so far away!) but I was curious to know why the one near the bottom has a red patch on it's neck

Oops, think I scared them lol!

Sadly the path doesn't get right to the waters edge, so getting any decent pics of waterfowl (other than Mallards) was a no-no for me

but I did get to see Goosanders, Red Legged Partridges, Robins, Wrens, Chaffinches, Grouse, a Heron, and I'm sure a Goldcrest mooching about in a pine tree!

The weather was ok in the fact that it didn't actually rain, but by the time I nearly got back to the car park it was blowing a bloomin' gale!

I'll certainly be going back again!

ChasCreek · #2 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 02:34 PM

That is a sizeable reservoir... looks like a good walk!

There is a wonderful reservoir in Wales (I can't for the life of me remember where) but it has the most wonderful bridge spanning the least wide end and a pumping house about half way around the reservoir that was built in a style that looks almost like a small castle, the kind of thing you would expect to find in Germany.

I did have some photos of it, but I think that was two laptops ago and they are now lost in the midsts of time.

Cazzie · #3 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 02:39 PM

Would that be lake Vrynwy (sp?) by any chance? Keith Shotton has recently been and as we used to live in Shropshire so we've been loadsa times - it's got a sunken village in the middle and a couple of bird hides dotted about

ChasCreek · #4 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 02:45 PM

Yes, I think that you are right.

There are also derelict old buildings (part of the old village) on the one side as well hidden among the trees. I have only visited it once, need to go back and drag the better half around it!

ChasCreek · #5 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 02:47 PM

Yep, after looking it up on the web, it is Lake Vyrnwy.

Pete Collins · #6 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 03:25 PM

I envy you seeing Goosanders on that reservoir, Cazzie, as I've only ever seen them three or four times.

I used to live in the Ipswich area, and there's a nice reservoir there called Alton Water. There are paths all the way round, a distance of 9-10 miles I think. There's a bridge across it at one point, and I know it used to take me just over 2 hours to walk round the larger part of the reservoir on one side of the bridge, and 40-45 minutes to go round the smaller section. Some of the smaller section is dedicated to wildlife (fishing and water sports occur elsewhere) and I did see a Goosander there once. I saw my first drake Smew on Alton Water as well.

I've a friend who lives near Harrogate and she took me on a walk round a couple of reservoirs in North Yorkshire, Fewston and Swinsty Reservoirs I think.

Cazzie · #7 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 05:19 PM

Been to Fewston Pete and there are Cormorants on that one! Also there are regular Kingfishers on the river/beck that runs out from the reservoir west of the bridge

Here's my really bad pic of the Goosanders.... (hope they are Goosanders!!!)

Pete Collins · #8 (**permalink**) 17-09-2007, 05:22 PM

Yes, I agree, I think they're female Goosanders. Had to check my bird book, because female Red-breasted Mergansers are quite similar, and I can never quite remember what the diferences are.

Cazzie · #9 (**permalink**) 17-09-2007, 05:38 PM

Well that's another bird species I've spotted to be ticked-off then!

Thanks Pete!

Tursiops2 · #10 (**permalink**) 17-09-2007, 06:52 PM

I'm glad you had a good time cazzie. I thought you would

T2

Cazzie · #11 (**permalink**) 17-09-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

I'm glad you had a good time cazzie. I thought you would

T2

Bring back memories for ya did it? - hope so!

RobSutton · #12 (**permalink**) 17-09-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Yes, I agree, I think they're female Goosanders. Had to check my bird book, because female Red-breasted Mergansers are quite similar, and I can never quite remember what the diferences are.

The way I remember the difference is that on a Merganser the red of head "merges" gradually into the pale breast underneath whilst on a Goosander it "goes suddenly" - well it helped me!

Cazzie · #13 (**permalink**) 17-09-2007, 09:24 PM

Have you been to Grimiwith lately Rob?

RobSutton · #14 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Have you been to Grimiwith lately Rob?

Must admit I've never been there, I tend to go off in the other direction, over to Stocks Reservoir (I assume you know of this place?) or up to Leighton Moss but generally spend most of my time in the Dales or off on trips up to various Scottish Islands.

Tursiops2 · #15 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Hi all!

A few days ago T2 gave me the 'heads-up' about a large reservoir near me that I'd completely forgotten about - Grimwith Reservoir near Hebden Bridge. So seeing as I was at a loose end yesterday I took myself off for the day!

Um. Cazzie, I've just noticed something... Hebden Bridge? The Grimwith Reservoir I know is nowhere near Hebden Bridge

It's up in the Dales, a few miles east of Grassington. I think we're talking about different reservoirs

Check your maps.
T2

Pete Collins · #16 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobSutton

The way I remember the difference is that on a Merganser the red of head "merges" gradually into the pale breast underneath whilst on a Goosander it "goes suddenly" - well it helped me!

Thanks very much Rob, that's very good and I think that should help me a lot. That was the problem I was having, remembering which of the two has an almost clear line across between the red of the head and the paler breast.

I do find memory tricks like that work for me. I learned the difference between moorhens and coots by remembering R is for red and there is an R in 'Moorhens' which are the ones with the Red bill.

I used to have difficulty remembering the name of the drug derived from Foxgloves. Trouble was, every time I saw a Foxglove I'd think "I know there's a drug derived from that, it's ..." and then have a complete memory blank - it would be on the tip of my tongue, but wouldn't come to me. Very annoying. This happened several times, then one day (when it had eventually come to me!) I thought "Foxgloves - fingers - digits - digitalis". So I thought I'd just remember 'fingers' when I saw a Foxglove and I'd remember Digitalis. In fact, every time I see a Foxglove I don't even have to think 'fingers', the Digitalis comes to me straight away now - so perhaps the very act of creating a memory trick for it was enough to fix it in my memory.

Cazzie · #17 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Um. Cazzie, I've just noticed something... Hebden Bridge? The Grimwith Reservoir I know is nowhere near Hebden Bridge

It's up in the Dales, a few miles east of Grassington. I think we're talking about different reservoirs

Check your maps.
T2

Lol! You're right soz, just drop the 'Bridge' bit, it's Hebden

Cazzie · #18 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Must admit I've never been there, I tend to go off in the other direction, over to Stocks Reservoir (I assume you know of this place?) or up to Leighton Moss but generally spend most of my time in the Dales or off on trips up to various Scottish Islands.

Stocks Reservoir - Nope! But I do now and it's not that far from me - thanks, will get my butt over there soon

I try and get out during the week if I can, but as I have to pick up my son from school I can't go too far, unless it's a grand prix weekend that is, then I'm off lol!

So what am I likely to see there then?

RobSutton · #19 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cazzie

Stocks Reservoir - Nope! But I do now and it's not that far from me - thanks, will get my butt over there soon

I try and get out during the week if I can, but as I have to pick up my son from school I can't go too far, unless it's a grand prix weekend that is, then I'm off lol!

So what am I likely to see there then?

Lots of usual waterbirds, a big gull roost (and breeding Mediterranean Gulls in Spring), a good chance of hen harriers and in the last few years a reputation as a likely spot for great grey shrike (but not last winter as far as I know). There's a hide there and a walk around the whole reservoir or through various way marked forest paths.

Cazzie · #20 (**permalink**) 19-09-2007, 11:46 AM

Sounds just up my street! Thanks Rob

Erm... does anyone know why that goose (3rd pic) seems to have a red neck? Fluke maybe?

Pete Collins · #21 (**permalink**) 19-09-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cazzie

...

Erm... does anyone know why that goose (3rd pic) seems to have a red neck? Fluke maybe?

Sorry Cazzie, I've no idea - it does look strange. I've done a quick 'Google' but couldn't find any type of goose that matches the picture. Came across a couple of references to red-throat goose in Bulgaria, but suspect they were mis-translations of red-breasted goose (which is nothing like the one in your photo).

RobSutton · #22 (**permalink**) 19-09-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cazzie

....
Erm... does anyone know why that goose (3rd pic) seems to have a red neck? Fluke maybe?

I wondered if it could be one fitted with a neck collar (they sometimes use them to study the movements of geese) but it looks much more like a plumage thing rather than something around the neck??

A puzzle

Cazzie · #23 (**permalink**) 20-09-2007, 07:43 PM

Glad it's just not me then - mystery eh?!?