Just to the east of Blackburn you'll find Rishton Reservoir, one of a series of waterbodies that top up the Leeds Liverpool Canal at its highest points. Adjacent to the reservoir is Cut Wood park with a small oak woodland that has seen better days.
Though it doesn't attract a lot of wildlife due to the disturbance of walkers, fishermen and the Yacht club, it does have some interesting records.
Breeding birds include Great-crested Grebe and occasionally Little Ringed Plover. In winter, there are occasionally good numbers of duck and large numbers of gulls commute between here and Whinney Hill Tip and Fishmoor Reservoir.
Some images of the Reservoir and environs, one cold and sunny October morning.
Though it doesn't attract a lot of wildlife due to the disturbance of walkers, fishermen and the Yacht club, it does have some interesting records.
Breeding birds include Great-crested Grebe and occasionally Little Ringed Plover. In winter, there are occasionally good numbers of duck and large numbers of gulls commute between here and Whinney Hill Tip and Fishmoor Reservoir.
Some images of the Reservoir and environs, one cold and sunny October morning.
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| Cut Wood - some good birds on the fringes of the wood at migration time. It's a while since we last had a large flock of Bramblings here with the Chaffinches. |
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| Small sycamores next to the playground - should be a Yellow-browed Warbler in there! |
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| Towards Blackburn in the distance |
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| The reservoir looking towards the railway embankment. Grebes normally try and nest along there or by the sailing club. |
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| Reservoir - Dam end |
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| The line of trees that regularly have flocks of birds moving through them. |
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| Reservoir from Cut Lane |
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| Cut Lane looking back to Cut Wood |
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| Over Norden Valley towards Plantation above Dean Clough Reservoir |
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| Below the dam end. Good rushy field for Reed Buntings and occasionally Stonechat. |
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| Leeds Liverpool Canal with Pendle Hill in the background |