5th August '10 Southfield Resevoirs

Cool, overcast, windy.

Southfield Resevoirs.

The bund that divides the resevoirs and Drax power station beyond.

The resevoirs are a couple of miles off the M62 near Goole. They were constructed in 1911 as compensation resevoirs for the Aire and Alder canals which run adjacent to them. We parked in the fishermens carpark which is reached by a decent track at the side of Beavers Bridge. We followed the tree covered bund running alongside the canal up to the dam from which the resevoir feeds the canals. Thats it in the picture below. I assume the concrete stancions supported a walkway at some time. We returned to the carpark and then took the path below the high bank following a hedgerow right up to the Beaver Sailing Club end of the resevoir. A good place for sightings. On the whole it was worth a visit. I suspect birdwise it will be more rewarding in the migration periods of spring and autumn. Nevertheless we still had an unusual first sighting. A mink. A dead mink! One of the fishermen told us at one time the place was overrun with them.

The dam which feeds the canal to the left.

Blackcap, Whitethroat, Green and Goldfinch, Linnet, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Tree Pipit.