On Thursday I went a bit further than Denso Marston Nature Reserve – all the way to Adel Dam Nature Reserve, with a stop off at High Royds Pond in Menston.
As usual tap on an image to see it in its gallery.
The stop off at Menston was because I understand Snipe have been reported there. If they are there they didn’t come out to say “Hi”. But that doesn’t surprise me. I have only ever seen Snipe by Baildon Moor over by Glovershaw Farm, and then in the distance. There are a fair number of Moorhen there along with Mandarin Duck and Mallards.
The trip to Adel Dam Nature Reserve was for the Water Rail. I had seen one at Denso Marston in 2020 but not since. They are very shy and don’t like showing themselves. The one (ones?) at Adel Dam seem to show themselves near the hide quite happily, so the visit was worth it. After getting a few reasonable photos I walked round to the hide on the large pond. As I arrived a Little Egret flew round to the left so I left the hide and went to the new(ish) screen where I could see it. It stalked around the edge a bit before flying off to the other side of the pond where it perched for a while. After it flew off I then walked round the pond on the circular walk. I watched a Red Kite being chased by a largish black bird that I assumed was a Crow – no photos. I then watched a few of the black birds take to the air again and took a photo which shows most of them to be Rooks followed by a Jackdaw. I then spent a few more minutes in the hide at the small pond watching loads of Blue Tits, Great Tits, a few Coal Tits, Robins, Chaffinches, a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, male Pheasant, Blackbird and Nuthatch (no photo).
While out I also had a good chat with people walking around High Royds Pond and in the hides at Adel Dam. A very pleasant outing.
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