Roddlesworth Reservoirs and Woods 27/11/2010.
Autumn Chill
After the coldest night of the Autumn so far, a small group of Rochdale Field Naturalists’ Society’s members, well muffled against the cold, visited Roddlesworth Reservoirs and surrounding woodland.
The starting point was the visitor facilities at Tockholes. Here, the bird feeders filled with avian goodies, in the adjacent hedgerow, had attracted a huge number of birds of a variety of species; Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Great, Blue and Cole Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and House Sparrows were quickly noted.
The woodland is a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees with Beech the predominant species. The deciduous trees were leafless, their bare branches pointing starkly into the now azure sky. Below the continuity of the grey trunks of the Beeches was broken by the dark green of the occasional Holly still bearing a few red berries. Whilst on the ground further colour was added by the deep litter of recently fallen, tawny coloured leaves.
Searching this leaf litter and the many logs, the fungi foragers had mixed fortunes. Many fungi had suffered frost damage and could not be identified. The more sheltered spots proved better, and yielded Birch Polypore, Turkey Tail, Blushing Bracket, Candlesnuff, Smokey Bracket, Dead Moll’s Fingers, Hairy Curtain Crust and Sulphur Tuft.
Occasional mixed flocks of birds including Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers could be found high in the treetops now warmed in the weak autumn sunshine. Robins sought their food, slipping in and out of the undergrowth.
Lunch was taken in the sunshine, on the embankment of Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir where one could admire the reflections of the trees in the mirror-like surface of the dark water, or the activities of a lone angler catching two small fish.
Continuing to Upper Roddleswoth Reservoir, a search revealed a juvenile Cormorant, two Tufted Ducks and a number of Mallard.
In the now rapidly falling temperature a return was made to the car park where we could embark into soon to be warmed cars. The birds however, could only look forward to another night of sub-zero temperatures. A bird’s life in such weather is very, very tough.
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