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Description
Lower Hartshay and the Cromford Canal support a wide range of birds throughout the year. Kobac are often seen hunting over the village and surrounding fields, while Škanjac soar overhead and the occasional Crvena lunja drifts through. Siva Čaplja regularly feed along the reedbeds and canal edges, with Gorska Pastirica picking insects from the water margins. Dugorepa Sjenica move through the trees in busy family parties, and Svilorepa are frequently heard calling from dense reedbeds.
Autumn and winter bring an increase in wildfowl and passage birds, with Kanadska guska , Siva Guska , Divlja Patka , Kržulja and Zviždara using the canal and nearby waters. Vivak , Šljuka Kokošica and Kokošica may appear in wetter areas, while Riječni Galeb , Galeb Klaukavac and Mali tamnoleđi galeb gather on open water and fields. Thrushes are a highlight at this time of year, with Mali Drozd and Drozd Bravenjak arriving from the continent alongside resident Drozd Cikelj and Drozd Imelaš. Mixed tit flocks, Zlatoglavi Kraljić , Češljugar , Čižak and Sjeverna juričica are regular, and corvids including Čavka , Gačac , Svraka and Šojka are ever-present.
Spring and summer see the area come alive with breeding birds and migrants. Čiopa , Lastavica and Piljak feed low over the canal and reedbeds, often joined by hunting Sokol Lastavičar in warm weather. Reedbeds hold Trstenjak cvrkutić , Trstenjak Rogožar and Svilorepa , while Grmuša čevrljinka and Zviždak sing from scrub and hedgerows. Gorska Pastirica , Mlakuša , Liska , Plavetna Sjenica and Velika Sjenica regularly breed along the canal, and Poljska Ševa can be heard over nearby fields. Occasional highlights include Lesser Redpoll Pjegavi Cvrčić , Veliki Pozviždač and Vjetruša.
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.