Adel Dam and Dowley Gap

  A morning trip to one of my favourite reserves today
  Adel Dam NR, usually plenty to see and people very
  friendly even the visitors to Golden Acre Park always
  say good morning, everyone seems so relaxed over there.

  Birdlife was on good form although the Brambling didn't
  show as they had yesterday which was a shame,
  it was the first time Ive been when the hides were quiet
  although it was early doors and they soon filled up later on,
  it was a bit dull and overcast first thing but then brightened up
  into a lovely summer sky.

  Plenty of Tufted Duck, Mallard and Mute Swan on the lake,
  2 Red Kite flew overhead, the reserve was full of song with
  the Song thrushes in full voice and plenty of drumming going
  on with the Woodpeckers, Jays were doing plenty of squawking
  and the Water Rail was making a racket while it was hiding, it only
  showed itself for a few seconds before diving back into the reeds, a
  woman put her hand out of the hide to point and a Nuthatch landed
  on her finger which surprised me how tame they were and a squirrel
  went for a swim in the pond at first hide which was another first for me,
  Mandarin Ducks, GSW'S, Nuthatch, Jay, LTT'S were all showing well
  and it was the same story at the 2nd hide on the big lake where an Otter
  showed itself for a second or two then disappeared and a Roe Deer was
  in the field.

  I was then set off to Eccup Reservoir but saw that my petrol was low
  so gave it a miss and headed back home but stopped at Dowley Gap
  for a short visit, it'd be rude not to seeing as Im passing, this place
  had Canada and Greylag Geese in the field and a few Greylag on the
  canal, a few Dunnock, 7 Alba-Wagtails all in the trees which surprised
  me, 3 Blue Tits, 1 Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk and a Red Kite
  overhead, at home in the garden were Gold & Greenfinch.