Kate is a photographer and has lived in Haworth for twenty years. Strolling on the moors she has come to study that no two days are ever the identical. Her weblog about Haworth & Stanbury moors is at www.katietuppence.com. That is her fourth weblog on this collection about Walshaw Generators – see right here for the entire collection.
Turbine 14 Spherical Hill SD 95291 34566 ///crucially.points.with
26 July 2025 My goal this morning was to move to the proposed website of wind turbine T14 and write about what I noticed on the best way. I observe my normal guidelines: I solely describe what I see or hear on the best way to T14, and all of the photographs had been taken on the stroll.
I set off from Bully Bushes above Stanbury following the Pennine Manner, previous High Withens earlier than dropping all the way down to the Walshaw reservoirs. Inside a couple of minutes into my stroll I noticed a pair of kestrels, the primary of many who I’d see. Kestrels had been overhead for many of the morning. They’re a typical chook above Walshaw Moor.
The bracken had sprung up over the previous week or so and though many individuals don’t prefer it, it provides a terrific touchdown website for a lot of small birds.
There have been plenty of reed buntings, willow warblers, meadow pipits and stonechats flitting right here and there, pausing from time to time for {a photograph}. It was beautiful to see so many juveniles too: 2025 has been an incredible breeding season on Walshaw Moor.
As I used to be following the Pennine Manner alongside the SE fringe of the center reservoir I noticed a short-eared owl out searching. These at the moment are fairly a typical sight on Walshaw Moor, although they’re nationally threatened and amber-listed.
The reservoir was a lot quieter than I used to be anticipating. There was a small group of lapwings circulating however no the place close to as many as I noticed initially of the season and lots of may have already began their journeys again to their wintering grounds.
There was a handful of oystercatchers down on the reservoir too and I might hear the odd curlew however didn’t see any.
I all the time really feel a bit melancholy when the bottom nesters head off after the season. I like them being right here. From March to July the moorland’s a hive of exercise filled with chicks and new beginnings.
The sand martins are nonetheless right here, however no images as a result of they’re far too fast for me. I stood and watched them for some time, darting via the air, this manner and that. After which I headed off up the Greave Clough to the proposed website of T14.
After the Pennine Manner, this seems like a distant place regardless of the great monitor that the 12-metre-wide CEP backbone monitor will observe whether it is constructed, 4 instances the width of the current monitor.
I attempt to formulate a time lapse in my thoughts of how it will have come to be. A glacier would have positively handed this manner, forming the U-shaped valley I’m in that the generally raging stream has deepened to a V. There are erratics scattered about and the Mere Stones up above me have glacial striations.
Once I attain the positioning of T14 I determine to make myself a espresso and take into consideration our ancestors being right here, earlier than the commercial revolution, earlier than the primary settlements even. Sat with my range on I take into consideration them sitting spherical a wooden fireplace. I ponder what they’d consider the mess we have now made.
T14 is a wierd website. It appears to be on the aspect of the hill. If it was on the flat prime of the ridge only a minute above it will be proper on prime of T40. Not one of the different websites I’ve been to have regarded like this.
I hear a kerfuffle above me. A kestrel is making an attempt to mob a buzzard. It’s a daring manoeuvre. Then over within the distance I discover one other chook of prey approaching, in all probability like me curious to know what’s going on. I believe it’s a kite, which have gotten extra widespread on Walshaw Moor.
So above me as I’m sat having my brew is a kestrel, a buzzard and a kite. I fired off just a few pictures, not the most effective, however a doc in time if nothing else.
After I’ve completed my brew and had a buttie I head off again house throughout the tops. I cease off on the subject close to the plantation over Stanbury manner, hoping for a final sighting of the Curlew household I’ve been observing all season. I sit for a very good half hour or so ready earlier than deciding to move off: ‘I’m too late’ I believe to myself.
However then I hear him. I lookup and there he’s stood on the wall. He stays for 10 seconds or in order I stand and watch him, then he’s gone. I smile to myself. ‘Till subsequent yr my feathered buddy.’
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