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Description
Lower Hartshay and the Cromford Canal support a wide range of birds throughout the year. varpushaukka are often seen hunting over the village and surrounding fields, while hiirihaukka soar overhead and the occasional isohaarahaukka drifts through. harmaahaikara regularly feed along the reedbeds and canal edges, with virtavästäräkki picking insects from the water margins. pyrstötiainen move through the trees in busy family parties, and silkkikerttunen are frequently heard calling from dense reedbeds.
Autumn and winter bring an increase in wildfowl and passage birds, with kanadanhanhi , merihanhi , sinisorsa , tavi and haapana using the canal and nearby waters. töyhtöhyyppä , taivaanvuohi and Luhtakana may appear in wetter areas, while naurulokki , harmaalokki and selkälokki gather on open water and fields. Thrushes are a highlight at this time of year, with punakylkirastas and räkättirastas arriving from the continent alongside resident laulurastas and kulorastas. Mixed tit flocks, hippiäinen , tikli , vihervarpunen and urpiainen are regular, and corvids including naakka , mustavaris , harakka and närhi are ever-present.
Spring and summer see the area come alive with breeding birds and migrants. tervapääsky , haarapääsky and räystäspääsky feed low over the canal and reedbeds, often joined by hunting nuolihaukka in warm weather. Reedbeds hold rytikerttunen , ruokokerttunen and silkkikerttunen , while hernekerttu and tiltaltti sing from scrub and hedgerows. virtavästäräkki , Liejukana , nokikana , sinitiainen and talitiainen regularly breed along the canal, and kiuru can be heard over nearby fields. Occasional highlights include ruskourpiainen pensassirkkalintu , kuovi and tuulihaukka.
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.