Oystercatcher

On one of my regular walks I pass Hurst Reservoir at the bottom of the Glossop end of the A57 Snake Pass road over the Pennines.

The reservoir is still there despite plans to dismantle it and return the valley to a new river bed. The final planning permission was due by April but it seems nothing has been decided yet. The Peak District National Park Planners had a meeting recently but no news has been made public to date.

The birds are trying to get on with life around the work and up the edge of the areas that are covered.

There are Common Sandpipers and Oystercatchers among the Pairs that are looking like they are once again successfully breeding in the area.

The Sandpipers pipe up and fly away but the Oystercatchers peep peep and stay close and they followed me all the way through to the moors even walking the track in front of me to keep me moving along - hoping I would follow rather than look for their young - I played along and got a lovely close up.

I'll keep my eyes open for little fluffy oystercatchers next time.

btw In a recent blip I showed a Blue tit feeding young in a nestbox - today was the day they fledged. - no luck in photographing this - but great to hear the calling high up in the trees and the adults still feeding them.