Blackstone Edge Reservoir & Whiteholme Reservoir

 I was hopeful that the change in the weather conditions might bring in some migrant waders. The previous day I had visited both Blackstone Edge and Whiteholme reservoirs, and while there were a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover, there was nothing different. But with overnight rain I was optimistic that there might have been something different drop in.

  Blackstone Edge was my first port of call and from the road I could already see that the reservoir looked quite lively with wading birds. A scan produced 6 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew and the best of the bunch, two Sanderling. 

-Sanderlings

  Buoyed by this, I continued on to Whiteholme Reservoir which was conspicuously quieter. There were no Dunlin at all here, probably due to the more limited shoreline. Most birds are probably preferring the other reservoirs. Still, upon reaching the northernmost corner of the reservoir I was please to find another three Sanderlings feeding on the mud. These were quite confiding at times.

  On my departure from Whiteholme the two Blackstone Edge Sanderlings were still present, leading me to confidently state that there was no overlap between the birds on the two reservoirs. 

-Sanderlings

I also managed a patch tick at Whiteholme with this rather lost Grey Squirrel. I can't imagine what must have gone wrong in the animals brain to make it think that coming this far onto the moors was a good idea!

-Grey Squirrel

In total managed 12 species at Blackstone Edge Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S241834687

In total managed 12 species at Whiteholme Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S241834467