Covenham

Following the torrential rain of Saturday, Sunday started beautifully sunny and reasonably warm. I decided it was time for a trip to Covenham Reservoir hoping there would be some sailing action to watch. We arrived getting on for 2 o'clock but the first boat was only just being launched:





We went for a walk along the footpath which circles the reservoir to see what wildlife was about.
Not a lot really, at least not along the area we walked. My joints are no longer up to walking the full 2+ miles it takes to walk right round and Penny was getting quite warm even though it had clouded over.

A few ducks:


and the odd gull:


no Wagtails this time, maybe later in the year.

I kept my eye on the only bit of activity:

 

 

As we were about to leave it looked as though there would be more activity later on:

 

but it was time to go back to the car and let Penny have a well deserved drink of water.

Finally a short part of our journey back.
Leaving the reservoir car park and travelling through the two villages called Covenham. They are adjoining and each has its own CofE church.



Some information about  Covenham can be seen on the GENUKI site.

Covenham Reservoir - Part 3 - Last Look Round

One annoying scene -
a pile of mattresses which some IQ zero had decided to dump near the bottom stile.

 

More pleasant was being able to look across the nearby fields and see harvest time had started.





I seemed to spend quite some time dodging the various insects which wanted to use me and the cameras as landing platforms. I still have an itchy lump on the back of my neck where one decided to see what I tasted like.
Unidentified weevil:

 

Most of the visible structure being concrete there is plenty of lichen to break up the monotonous grey.
Caloplaca aurantia?:



There were lots of brown butterflies, some skippers I think, but not one would rest in a place where it was possible to get a photo. The only other colour spotted - a pretty flower.
Birds-foot-trefoil?:

 

At the right time of year there should be some orchids to see but nothing was showing on Sunday:



Disappointingly the bird life was virtually nil. There are usually some gulls and ducks swimming about but not this time. A few gulls flying high up but the highlight for me was a Yellow Wagtail hunting for food just above the lapping water:

 

 

 

On the whole an enjoyable visit. It was nice to get a change of scenery.

Covenham Reservoir - Part 2 - Sailing

At one end of the reservoir is the watersports centre:



People were just beginning to manoeuvre their boats down the slipway:

 

 

Getting ready for an afternoons sailing:

 

Rising well above the height of the reservoir one of many wind generator farms in this part of Lincolnshire can be seen:

 

Along with the occasional solo generator:

 

A bit of video - somewhat jerky in places as it was hand held and I really should have switched off the Nikon's in camera anti shake facility. It's fine for stills but when things are moving across the view in a video it keeps trying to keep what it assumes is the main subject in the same position:



There are quite a few rules for those taking part in activities on the reservoir. Certain places for different activities and a 'forbidden zone' in one corner for wildlife. One main rule is - no one is allowed on the water unless the rescue boat is available and manned:



My one disappointment was a lack of wind surfers. For this spectator they make for more entertainment, especially when they are learning or trying out a new manoeuvre. This is the first time they have been missing when I have visited.

Covenham Reservoir - Part 1 - The Site

 

Covenham Reservoir is a totally man made structure. It measures about 1km by 1km and is a store for water which can be pumped up from the nearby disused Louth Navigation Canal. Most of our water comes from underground aquifers but the level in these can be very low in years with little rain so Covenham Reservoir can act as a reserve supply. As it rises about 20m (60 feet) above the surrounding flat countryside whichever of the two methods of access is chosen it is a steep climb.

Views from the bottom and top of the steps:




The main problems using the steps, apart from their steepness, are the stiles which have to be negotiated top and bottom. Neither are suitable for Penny to jump. They are designed to keep sheep which graze on the grass outside the structure from entering the footpath.

The other way is suitable for cars as there is a watersports centre at the top:
 

 

Once at the top you get the first views of the reservoir:
 



From the footpath you can look down on the car park where I parked the battle wagon:


The only other structure, apart from the watersports centre, is the visible part of the pumping and water treatment centre at the far end:


The reservoir is lined with concrete to stop marginal water plants from growing. By the layers of water weed it is possible to gauge how full, or empty, it is:


Apart from it being a pleasant outing on a hot Summers day there were two reasons to go. One was to see if there was any human activity; sailing or wind surfing. The other was to see what wild birds, if any, were to be spotted. More about those later.