Crookfoot Reservoir by Ted Parker
BACKGROUND
Crookfoot Reservoir is the largest freshwater body in the north of Cleveland and
lies to the west of Hartlepool, close to the boundary with County Durham. It covers an area of about 8 hectares and has a scenic variety of habitats, which includes
coniferous and mixed woodland, scrub, hedgerows,
and farmland. Consequently, the
range of birds it holds can be impressive. In winter, it is primarily noted for
its wildfowl and gull flocks. The reservoir is
no longer used for water extraction
and, as there is no active water level management as at Scaling Dam, the amount
of peripheral mud is totally dependent on the amount of rainfall. Clearly, this
impacts directly on the number and variety of wading birds to be found and, because
of this, the site does not always achieve its maximum birding potential.
LOCATION, ACCESS AND STRATEGY
Crookfoot Reservoir (often simply referred to as ‘Crookfoot’) lies to the west of
the A19 and access is controlled and strictly limited to permit holders, who include
all paid-up members of the Teesmouth Bird Club.
Driving along the northbound carriageway from Teesside, pass the A689 Wolviston
interchange and continue northwards for just over 7 kilometres, past the Dalton
Lodge Hotel on your right, then look for a road exit signposted to Trimdon. Turn
left here and continue westwards along this unclassified road for approximately
1.5 kilometres to a private, rough track on the left, which is owned by Hartlepool
Water Company (now part of Anglian Water). There is a locked metal gate here that
requires a passcode to open and
TBC members can obtain this from Club Secretary,
Chris Sharp (Tel: 01429 865163). The code is part of TBC’s access arrangement and
should not be divulged. Drive slowly down the track, past a wood on your left and
then through a farm, where there are two or three speed humps, and continue until you reach the reservoir. There is a small parking area for birdwatchers on the south
bank, which can accommodate a maximum of 3 cars and this should be used for viewing.
On no account should the access road be impeded by vehicles because it is regularly
used for farm access. Also, do not drive farther along the track than the designated
parking area, as this is solely for private access.
From the parking area there
are panoramic views across the whole of the reservoir.
Access track from minor road
Approach track to reservoir
The dam wall
View from car park
If approaching from the north along the A19, pass the A179 Hartlepool junction and
then, after about 2.5 kilometres, turn right at the Elwick turnoff, taking care
as you cross the two lanes of oncoming, fast traffic and join the minor road to
Crookfoot as previously described. The reservoir will produce birds at any time
but it can be uncomfortable and difficult to watch in strong winds with a northerly
component.
BIRDS
Surprisingly, Crookfoot never seems to achieve its true potential and the relatively
low numbers of wildfowl and waders reflect this. However, it is always worth a visit
because the surrounding woodlands hold a good range of small birds and raptors,
including Common Buzzard.
Winter visits are best for wildfowl and from the parking area it is possible to
see the virtually the whole reservoir apart from the head of the wooded creek at
the northern end. In the recent past, the water and surrounding fields have been
a magnet for geese, particularly Greylag, which occasionally topped 500 birds. These
often bring in less common species, such as Pink-footed, White-fronted, Bean and
Barnacle Geese but, in recent years, the prominence of this site for these appears
to have declined.
Guaranteed birds include relatively small numbers of Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted
Duck and Goldeneye. One or two Shelducks and Mute Swan are sometimes seen and there
may be a few Pochards present. Rare and scarce wildfowl have included Smew, Goosander,
Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked
Duck and Mandarin. Both Little and Great Crested Grebes occur but rarer grebes,
such as Red-necked and Slavonian, are only a slim possibility. Coot and Moorhen
are resident, though numbers of the former increase in winter, but swan species,
Pintail, Gadwall and Shoveler are surprisingly less regular than may be expected.
Many gulls come in to the reservoir from the coast and surrounding fields at all
times of the year to drink, bathe and preen. These include large numbers of Common,
Black-headed and Herring Gulls and often bring in with them rarer species, which
have included Iceland, Glaucous, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged, so it is always
worth looking through the gull flocks. During the winter months, small birds include
good numbers of Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows, particularly around the first farm,
where they often feed on spilt grain. The mature woodland on the left before the
first farm is a good site for Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed, Marsh and Willow
Tits, and Jay, so it is worth a brief stop here by the gate (without blocking the
access track). Finch flocks include Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Siskin and small groups
of
Stock Doves often feed on the arable fields.
In spring and summer, the number of water birds declines as the wintering flocks
disperse and the ‘palate’ will be more confined to those that remain to breed, including
Shelduck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Great Crested Grebe. If there is some peripheral
mud, look out for passage waders, particularly Little Ringed Plover, Common,
Wood and Green Sandpipers, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. Flocks of Pied Wagtails pass
through in late March and early April and look out for Yellow Wagtail, which is
often seen in spring. The amount of mud is entirely dependent on the level of winter
precipitation and if water levels were controlled, it is highly likely that Oystercatcher
and Little Ringed Plover would return to breed at Crookfoot. Most of the time, water
levels are too high. Raptors can be seen at any time of the year but experience
suggests that spring and autumn are the best times when local birds are supplemented
by migrants. Crookfoot is a good place to see Osprey and birds occasionally linger
here for several weeks before moving on, as one did in 2010. The presence of one
raptor often attracts others, such as Common Buzzard, which are frequent here, Sparrowhawk,
Peregrine and Kestrel. There is also a slim chance of a Goshawk.
Small breeding birds include a good range of woodland species, notably Willow Warbler,
Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Treecreeper, Long-tailed, Great,
Blue and Coal Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jay, whilst the hedgerow trees
hold a few pairs of Tree Sparrows. Yellowhammer breeds in the farmland hedgerows
and there is a Rookery in the first wood along the track from the minor road, which
held 56 nests in 2010. Listen out for a ‘yaffling’ Green Woodpecker, which occasionally
breeds locally.
Crookfoot is, perhaps, less well watched than Scaling Dam and Lockwood Beck in the
south of Cleveland, so pay a visit and find birds for yourself.
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