Holmfirth Reservoirs

Despite the on-going major overhaul of Brownhill, Ramsden & Riding Wood Reservoirs in the Holme Valley, the area remains one of the finest for local wildlife walks.

A glorious morning brought one or two surprises, most notably a decent sized flock of Common Crossbills. These birds could well be part of the on-going continental irruption that has seen some remarkable numbers of this capricious woodland bird everywhere from Shetland to Scilly.


Closer encounters today included this Spotted Flycatcher youngster. These birds seem increasingly rare and I no longer take them for granted. This individual was very confiding and provided my first images of the species for nearly twenty years, when a pair nested in a filing room where I worked.


Young Willow Warblers were in abundance this morning but were almost too quick for me whilst a fussy Meadow Pipit was a little more cooperative!