Description
Tunstall Reservoir is a water supply storage reservoir completed in 1879, and now used solely to maintain minimum regulatory flows on the River Wear. The reservoir borders the Backstone Bank and Baal Hill Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest. At the northern end of the reservoir, there is a small marshy area that is designated as a private nature reserve. The rest of the reservoir is used by for both Boat and Bank Fishing.
Tunstall Reservoir supports a small number of breeding Σκουφοβουτηχτάρι, Μαυροκέφαλη Πάπια, Χηνοπρίστης and Ακτίτης. (Ευρωπαϊκός) Στρειδοφάγος, Κοκκινοσκέλης and (Ευρωπαϊκή) Καλημάνα sometimes roost on the dam. The Reservoir provides a regular winter roost venue for Καστανοκέφαλος Γλάρος and a maximum of 850 birds has been recorded. Ψαραετός has been recorded on a number of occasions and (Ευρωπαϊκός) Κορμοράνος is present in the winter. Also a good chance to see (Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα and Σταχτοσουσουράδα.
The woodland on the eastern edge of the reservoir contains a variety of trees, including, sessile oak, ash, alder, willows, rowan, hazel, holly and birch. This attracts birds such as Πράσινος Δρυοκολάπτης, Πευκοδρυοκολάπτης, Δεντροτσοπανάκος, (Ευρασιατική) Μπεκάτσα, Χουχουριστής, Μαυρομυγοχάφτης and (Κοινός) Φοινίκουρος.
Details
Access
Tunstall Reservoir is situated in the north Pennines and lies 3.5 km north of the village of Wolsingham, in Weardale, County Durham. Click on the P in the map for directions to a parking lot. There is a 3 km footpath around the reservoir.

