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Description
Lower Hartshay and the Cromford Canal support a wide range of birds throughout the year. Atmaca are often seen hunting over the village and surrounding fields, while Şahin soar overhead and the occasional Kızıl Çaylak drifts through. Gri balýkçýl regularly feed along the reedbeds and canal edges, with Dağ kuyruksallayanı picking insects from the water margins. Uzunkuyruklu baştankara move through the trees in busy family parties, and Kamış Bülbülü are frequently heard calling from dense reedbeds.
Autumn and winter bring an increase in wildfowl and passage birds, with Kanada Kazı , Boz kaz , Yeşilbaş , Çamurcun and Fiyu using the canal and nearby waters. Kızkuşu , Su çulluğu and Su kılavuzu may appear in wetter areas, while Karabağ martı , Kuzey Gümüş Martı and Karasırtlı Martı gather on open water and fields. Thrushes are a highlight at this time of year, with Kızıl ardıç and Tarla ardıcı arriving from the continent alongside resident Öter ardıç and Ökse ardıcı. Mixed tit flocks, Çalıkuşu , Saka , Karabaşlı iskete and Huş isketesi are regular, and corvids including Küçük karga , Ekin kargası , Saksağan and Alakarga are ever-present.
Spring and summer see the area come alive with breeding birds and migrants. Ebabil , Kır kırlangıcı and Ev kırlangıcı feed low over the canal and reedbeds, often joined by hunting Delice doğan in warm weather. Reedbeds hold Saz Kamışçını , Kındıra kamışçını and Kamış Bülbülü , while Küçük Ak Gerdanlı Ötleğen and Çıvgın sing from scrub and hedgerows. Dağ kuyruksallayanı , Sutavuðu , Sakarmeke , Mavi Baştankara and Büyük baþtankara regularly breed along the canal, and Tarlakuşu can be heard over nearby fields. Occasional highlights include Küçük Huş İsketesi Çekirge Kamışçını , Kervançulluğu and Kerkenez.
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.