Places I visit Regularly
Elland Gravel Pits
Set between the river Calder and the Calder and Hebble Canal, these old gravel pits are now full of reeds . Giving perfect cover for Coots, little Grebe, Herons and wildfowl not to mention a number of Warblers and Tits. Also Cormorants, Terns and different types of Gull can be seen on the water ski lake. Kingfisher, Wagtails and Dipper use all these waterways and Deer have been seen in the woods by the canal.
Ringstone Edge Reservoir
Quite a small reservoir which is walled nearly all the way round except for the North shore which is open and shallow with some good cover for wading birds. Herons, Golden, ringed and little Plover have and do visit here as well as Curlew, Whimbrel, Lapwing, Green Shank and Jack Snipe. Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Twite and Wheatear have been spotted about in the surrounding fields.
Also gets visits from Oystercatcher and numerous wildfowl {Goldeneye, Mallard, wigeon and Goosanders}
Scammonden Dam
Scammonden dam is a great place to see Twite and Curlew. A large number of Herons nest in the area and Stonechats and Wheatear can be seen on the dry stone walls. Kestrels favour the surrounding moor land and Little owls have been seen as well. Flocks of Canada, and Pinkfooted Geese feed with Fieldfares and Thrushes in the fields by the reservoir. Coal, Blue and Great Tits as well as Willow Warblers and Goldcrest , can be found In the conifers and woods on the hillside.
Withens Clough Reservoir
This fringe-land moor area is a fantastic site to see Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. The Reservoir attracts Geese and Wildfowl as well as Common Sandpiper and Golden Plover. As you walk up on the foot path {The Calder way} Common Snipe can be heard and seen sitting on dry stone walls as well as Curlews . Whinchat and Stonechat can be seen perched on Bracken. Little Owls and Green and Greater Spotted Woodpeckers have been seen and heard in the Small deciduous wood on the left hand side of the now tarmac road. In May and June listen out for Cuckoos. Linnets and Twite often sit on the telephone wires leading up to the few properties at the top of the moor.