SE075336

Denholme Clough

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Doe Park Reservoir is a mid size body of water situated to the east of Denholme village. It is surrounded by farmland on three sides and has a small sewage works between it and Denholme. it is quite an open plane reservoir with only a few small trees and shrubs to obscure its shoreline. it is higher up the same valley as Hewenden Reservoir and it's river outlet eventually becomes Harden Beck. It is fed by Stubden Beck flowing East down from the Stubden and Thornton Moor Reservoirs and Denholme Beck flowing North down Denholme Clough.

Sadly from a birding point view it has a sailing club and a small group of fishermen that use it on a regular basis. These two factors definitely interfere with the birdlife as very few of the locally rare species linger.

To the immediate North East is an area of over grown damp shrubby grassland that has attracted birds such as Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Willow Tit. Along the eastern side is a very steep field with plenty of gorse bushes which are home to a lose breeding colony of Linnets and occasionally attract Stonechat.

The southern most edge is an excellent micro-habitat of marsh and shrubs which appears to be a good stop over place for spring and autumn migrants. Here birds such as Water Rail, Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler & Pied Flycatcher have been seen among good numbers of common migrants. The Sewage works along the west side attract Wagtails and Pipits on the filter beds as well as Finches and Warblers in the bushes surrounding them.

Doe Park is very quick to develop a shoreline all around but due to the disturbance seldom hangs onto the few waders that have been brave enough to stay. Needless to say waders such as Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper have been seen to linger. Other waders, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot have passed through. As well as waders migrant raptors have been seen with Hen Harrier, Honey Buzzard, Merlin and Peregrine all being recorded. A Kittiwake once spent almost an entire month visiting first thing in the morning with other Gulls during an autumn.

Resident wetland species are a bit thin on the ground but Kingfisher, Dipper and Grey Wagtail can be seen all year round.

This is definitely one of BOG's under-watched sites that has potential to produce quality birds