Withens Clough

Cold and icy this morning as I walked over to Withens Clough reservoir via Mankinholes and Lumbutts. Although there were a couple of Goldcrests at Lee Dam there was nothing else stirring, and the same was true over at Withens Clough too. The reservoir is still covered in ice:

Down into Cragg Vale there were a few small flocks of Long Tailed Tits but little else to see.

Mytholmroyd and the River Calder and a Dipper! Something to see at last! Onwards towards Hebden Bridge.

Blimey, what a quiet day. Very few birds around. Got past the Stubbing Wharf along the Rochdale Canal towpath and sat down to rest a while and along came a pair of Mallards. They displayed for a minute or so, heads bobbing and circling each other, then mated - we may have a very early clutch of ducklings here soon.

On to Eastwood Water Treatment Works and 5 Pied Wagtails were on the settling beds along with 2 Meadow Pipits, over 25 Black-headed Gulls and over 20 Jackdaws. Checked the Pied Wags out to ensure there weren't any White Wags in there and sure enough - there weren't.

Just short of a 12 mile walk and not very much to show for it, other than a good feeling of being out in the open air for over 4 hours.