Saturday, 13th. February, 2010. Cromford & High Peak Trail

I have become almost totally obsessed with my local patch Bennerley Marsh, but today I dragged myself away and caught the ‘Transpeak’ to Cromford in Derbyshire. Target species were Hawfinch and Dipper and in the time it takes to put the ’bins’ on and ask a passing birder, “any Hawfinch about” Dipper was dealt with ! one flew downstream. Hawfinch proofed a little more difficult, it took me all of ten minutes to get among em’ I Made my way around to a little lane that goes behind Willersey Castle and found five with two MistleThrush. Back at the river bridge more birders were enjoying flying birds in ones and twos, I hung around a while, had a natter with a friend, decided my Hawfinch tally was seven and headed off.

The main job was done, what to do next ? A walk along the Cromford seemed a good idea, alas, not much about, apart from Little Grebe [above] I prefer Dabchick, eighteen in all ! and as confiding as it gets. I absolutley love this little bird and the water on this canal is nice and clear so you can see them in action underwater, fabulous ! I was going to try for a photo, but I think I would have needed a filter, so I settled for the one we have here. I decided to hit the High Peak Trail, first time for at least thirty five years, I used to walk a lot in Derbyshire. Off I went. ” I love to go a’wandering’  again it was very quiet bird wise, I picked up three Coal Tit and somewhere in the distance a Cock Pheasant was calling, a pleasant stroll. Further along I decided, on impulse to climb a rather large rock – Black Rock, for old times sake, found the easiest route and up I went. After this exertion I found a quiet spot for lunch, on my second cup of tea a  female Merlin powered through the trees like a bullet ! and apart from the occasional passing Chaffinch very little else was happening but I did find an interesting area of cleared forest which I thought might be interesting from spring onward, placed this thought in the area of the brain marked with a light bulb then  made my way back to the canal, and re-counted the Little Grebes, yep ! eighteen. I wandered down to the river, to a different stretch and found another Dipper, I thought I might just get a photo, but with the light failing and about as good as my photographic skills, plus it was too distant for my modest little camera, still, this is it. So, not many bird species but a couple of decent ticks and a very pleasant day birding and roaming in a nice part of Derbyshire. Dave J.