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Description
Lower Hartshay and the Cromford Canal support a wide range of birds throughout the year. (Κοινό) Ξεφτέρι are often seen hunting over the village and surrounding fields, while (Κοινή) Γερακίνα soar overhead and the occasional Ψαλιδιάρης drifts through. Σταχτοτσικνιάς regularly feed along the reedbeds and canal edges, with Σταχτοσουσουράδα picking insects from the water margins. Αιγίθαλος move through the trees in busy family parties, and (Ευρωπαϊκό) Ψευταηδόνι are frequently heard calling from dense reedbeds.
Autumn and winter bring an increase in wildfowl and passage birds, with Canada Goose , Σταχτόχηνα , Πρασινοκέφαλη Πάπια , (Ευρωπαϊκό) Κιρκίρι and (Ευρωπαϊκό) Σφυριχτάρι using the canal and nearby waters. (Ευρωπαϊκή) Καλημάνα , (Κοινό) Μπεκατσίνι and (Ευρωπαϊκή) Νεροκοτσέλα may appear in wetter areas, while Καστανοκέφαλος Γλάρος , Ασημόγλαρος του Βορά and Μελανόγλαρος gather on open water and fields. Thrushes are a highlight at this time of year, with Κοκκινότσιχλα and Κεδρότσιχλα arriving from the continent alongside resident (Κοινή) Τσίχλα and Γερακότσιχλα. Mixed tit flocks, Χρυσοβασιλίσκος , (Κοινή) Καρδερίνα , (Κοινό) Λούγαρο and Τσακρίλλι are regular, and corvids including (Ευρωπαϊκή) Κάργια , Χαβαρόνι , (Κοινή) Καρακάξα and (Ευρωπαϊκή) Κίσσα are ever-present.
Spring and summer see the area come alive with breeding birds and migrants. (Κοινή) Σταχτάρα , σταβλοχελίδονο and Λευκοχελίδονο feed low over the canal and reedbeds, often joined by hunting Δεντρογέρακο in warm weather. Reedbeds hold Καλαμοποταμίδα , Σχοινοποταμίδα and (Ευρωπαϊκό) Ψευταηδόνι , while Lesser Whitethroat and Δεντροφυλλοσκόπος sing from scrub and hedgerows. Σταχτοσουσουράδα , Αρκοπετείναρο , (Κοινή) Φαλαρίδα , Γαλαζοπαπαδίτσα and Καλόγερος regularly breed along the canal, and (Κοινή) Σιταρήθρα can be heard over nearby fields. Occasional highlights include Lesser Redpoll Θαμνοτριλιστής , (Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα and Βραχοκιρκίνεζο.
Overall, this short walk offers excellent habitat diversity and rewarding birding in all seasons, with something new to see throughout the year.
Details
Access
Cromford Canal and Lower Hartshay are located just west of Ripley. There’s no official parking, but on-road parking is possible. Please be mindful of local houses and park considerately. Press P on the map for directions.