A circular walk around Scaling Dam (North Yorks)

Visiting the parents this easter weekend and so based in North Yorkshire for a couple of days.

On Friday a walk around Scaling Dam – a man made reservoir frequented by anglers, sailors and the occasional Hen Harrier and Osprey.

Parking at the Boat Club end, the stand of trees by the car park was strangely quiet but following the circular path there were plenty of willow warblers in evidence along with numerous great and blue tits and the occasional greylag goose flying over. Once out onto the moors behind the reservoir we came across a colony of green hairstreaks – a local speciality.

Green Hairstreak

Not much else of note except perhaps the drake wood duck in the reservoir at the Whitby end, although as one has been resident living beneath the burger van for several years it probably doesn’t count as a tick.

On the return path along the bank of the reservoir were dozens of meadow pipits – either that or the same seven birds constantly flying ahead of us and re-settling!

Birds seen : Willow warbler, great tit, blue tit, wren, lapwing, tufted duck, cormorant, black-headed gull, meadow pipit, wood duck, chaffinch, oystercatcher.

Butterflies : Large white, peacock, green hairstreak, skipper sp, small tortoiseshell.