Stocks Reservoir (SD730560).

   Stocks Reservoir lies in the Forest of Bowland at an altitude of 180 m.It is owned by United Utilities. It is approx 3 km long and varies in width from 200m to 1,250m, with an island in the broadest part. In view of the distances involved, a telescope is recommended. The River Hodder runs through from north to south, and the other major feeder is Bottoms Beck which runs from the north east and in under the causeway.The Bowland Fells lie to the north and west and Gisburn Forest to the north east.

  Access:

The reservoir is best approached via the unclassified road which runs from the B6478 between Tosside and Slaidburn. Turn off the B6478 by the telephone kiosk at Stephen Moor Crossroads, SD748543.

There is no public transport, nor are there any toilets or litter bins.  There is a car park at the bottom of School Lane SD732565, a hide nearby SD730567 and a picnic site in the old garden between the two SD731566. The reservoir is best viewed from the hide, picnic site, causeway SD737561, or permissive path at SD735556.

  A log book is kept in the hide. Visitors entering records are asked to sign their name and also to leave a contact address or telephone number if reporting anything unusual.

  The permissive footpath referred to runs right round the reservoir, but well away from the banks to which access is restricted. Fly fishing is allowed from bank and boats in the southern two thirds at certain times of the year, but not from the island or the shore at the north end.

  Access to the fishery is off the Bentham road which runs north from Slaidburn.Birdwatchers are advised to avoid this approach.

  Birds:

Little and Great Crested Grebes both occur but falling water levels usually prevent breeding.  Great Cormorants haul out on the island at all times of the year and roost in trees at the Hodder inlet. Raptors recorded in recent years include Eurasian Marsh Harrier (rare on passage), Hen Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey (annual on Spring passage, more rarely in Autumn), Common Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon.  Black Grouse did occur but there have been no sightings recently. Both Short-eared and Little Owls are seen on the surrounding moorland while the forest holds Tawny and possibly Long-eared Owls.  Sightings of Raven have increased.

A large colony of Black-headed Gulls occupies the island in the breeding season.  In recent years, Mediterranean Gulls have become an annual feature. There is a large winter gull roost which includes many Mew (Common) as well as larger Gulls.  Black, Common and Arctic Terns are seen on passage.

Stocks is best known for wildfowl and waders.  Species marked* are known to breed.  Wildfowl recorded in recent years include Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose*, Barnacle Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal*, Mallard*, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveller, Common Pochard, Ring-necked Duck, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Black (Common) Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser* (occasionally breed, the only Lancashire site?), Goosander* and Ruddy Duck.

Some waders breed* around the reservoir while others are seen only on passage.  Species recorded in recent years include Eurasian Oystercatcher*, Little (Little Ringed) Plover*, Ringed Plover*, European Golden Plover* (on surrounding fells), Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing*, Red Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Temmincks Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin* (on surrounding fells), Ruff, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe*, Eurasian Woodcock* (in forest), Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew*, Common Redshank*, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper* and Ruddy Turnstone. 

At Spring passage as many as 11 species have been present at the same time.  The number of passage waders is affected by the amount of draw-down and hence mud exposed.When water levels are high it is worth checking the flood pool on nearby Champion Moor at SD 749523.

Article kindly provided by A.A. Cooper.