Natural Derbyshire Tours
@toursnatural.bsky.social
Wildlife walks in the beautiful Peak District and beyond. Seasonal and bespoke walks to see the best wildlife Derbyshire has to offer. http://www.naturalderbyshiretours.uk
The local cemetery is a gift that keeps giving at the moment - another excellent morning with a female Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler & 6 Blackcap along with the regulars of Green Woodpecker (3), Kestrel & Sparrowhawk (2) @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
A lovely visit to #Lockopark this morning - a covey of 10 Grey Partridge was a treat with a Whinchat (1 of 3 here) and a first Wheatear of the autumn in the neighbouring field. Also 2 Hobby, 2 Red Kite, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Kes & 6 Yellowhammer @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
A very local twitch today (c600m 😂) and 3rd time lucky to see the Redstart that was found at Nottingham Rd Cemetery yesterday - a very skulking bird that showed for about 15 seconds but only my 2nd here. Less skulking was our lovely male Kes! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
Top morning at a parched #lockopark - after struggling for sightings all year I managed to refind a pair of Little Owl 😍. Also Hobby, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, Red Kite, 12+ Buzzard, 2 Raven & good breeding records of Linnet & Yellowhammer @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
If you build it they will come - some fab news from High Leas, Barn Owls have bred successfully for this 1st time in years. The vole rich grassland is ideal for these birds but with support from @derbyswildlife.bsky.social & others a 2 well sited boxes did the trick. @derbyperegrines.bsky.social
Fantastic to catch the unringed White Stork just outside Hatton this morning - a fabulous bird looking at home and seemingly finding plenty to eat in the long grass fields. A first for me! (I need to get out more 😁) @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding
A Red Kite kinda day at #lockopark today with up to 5 enjoying the blustery conditions. The Oystercatcher pairs eggs seem to be hatching with a change in volume and activity from the birds along with a brief glimpse of one chick. Barn Owl, 12+ Buzzard and a Kes too! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
A great morning with a lovely group in the White Peak - #redstart were the star with c15 singing males and a minimum of 5 active nests. Dippers galore including juvs and adults feeding a 2nd brood. 4 Spotted Flycatcher, Peregrine, Red Kite & Garden Warbler (3) @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding
The Serengeti of South Derbyshire with several Cattle Egret doing what it says on the tin by the Trent - a lovely couple of hours at Willington Wetlands. 5 sp. of heron/egret, Cuckoo, Kingfisher, Common Terns, 2 Sparrowhawk & 4 Oystercatcher. Influx of Painted Lady (7) @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
Top walk with a lovely bunch at Willington Wetlands this am - 8sp. of warbler incl. Lesser Whitethroat, top views of Common Tern, Swift, Red Kite, Cattle Egret, a calling Cuckoo, pair of Yellow Wags and a brief Hobby. Wonderful to find this toad near the tower hide too! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
Great walk in the Dark Peak with Mark who wanted to see Ring Ouzel - we found a minimum of 6 birds including a couple of obliging males. Other highlights were a drumming Snipe, Golden Plover, c8 Curlew, Cuckoo, 3 Redstart, 4 Pied Flycatcher and some lovely Lapwing chicks @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
Back from Skye and an early walk at #Lockopark had me thinking I was still up north with a Cuckoo calling & 2 Willow Warbler singing (both part of our Skye soundtrack) on a very chilly morning. A 1st Gadwall since 2023, Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, Barn Owl, 15+ Swallow @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
Garden Warbler, bat bonanzas, early orchids & No Mow May - May's newsletter from Natural Derbyshire Tours is now available 👇 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social www.naturalderbyshiretours.uk/may-newslett... #walking #Derbyshire #May #gardenwarbler #naturalderbyshiretours
Lovely group walk at Willington Wetlands this morning - 9sp. of warbler included Grasshopper Warbler (2), Garden Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat. Goosander with young on the Trent, a first Common Tern of the year & 5+ Swift. Waders included a brief Green Sandpiper @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
A top 'Best of the White Peak' group walk this morning - not often Redstart (14+) is upstaged but our views of Dipper (4) incl. 2 feeding a brood in the nest were insane! Peregrine, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Green Woodies, Grey Wags, Early Purple Orchids & a first Swift too! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
Great walk with Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery this morning - excavating & mating Green Woodpeckers (2 firsts for me!), Raven, Swallow, Blackcap, Greenfinch & displaying Stock Dove in beautiful surrounds. Always a pleasure to lead these! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
'Best of the Dark Peak walk' today & a great selection for our group including 10+ Wheatear, 3 Ring Ouzel, 4 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, Tree Pipit, Oil Beetle & 6 sp. of wader including our 1st Common Sandpipers of the year (2) and 6+ Curlew @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @curlewaction.bsky.social
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" A top day for Redstarts in the Peaks with a grand total of 27(!) on today's walk in the White Peak. An absolute joy to watch these fan birds 😍. Also 3 Wheatear, Little Owl & Garden Warbler @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding
Few weeks since my last visit but a lovely morning at #HighLeasFarm today - Tree Pipits back in force with 4 birds singing (a beautiful understated songster) along with Willow Warbler (4), Blackcap (6) & a single Whitethroat. Cuckoo flowers but no Cuckoo yet! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding
Mean, moody & magnificent - Crowden chucked a bit of wind & rain at our fab group this morning but it was worth it to be serenaded by a male Ring Ouzel (1 of 2 seen). Great views of Peregrine, Kestrel, Stonechat & lots of Willow Warbler now @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
And that's it for another spring! A fab private Mountain Hare walk with a lovely couple from Sheffield was our last of season - A min of 4 Hares with a great supporting cast of Golden Plover (8), Curlew (8) and Wheatear (3). Two walks fell foul of fog but 6 went ahead with Hares seen on all!
Our final 'Discover Mountain Hares' walk this AM & its no exaggeration to say it was exceptional day in the hills! A min of six Hares with lots of chasing and interaction. 5 Wheatear, 6 Curlew & 5 Golden Plover to a backdrop of Skylark & 🌞 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
Snake's head fritillaries at Notts Road Cemetery this am amongst some fantastic other flowers - Bluebells, Wood Anenomes, Dog Violets, carpets of lemon yellow Primrose and the first Cowslips. Pair of Sparrowhawk, Buzzards & Green Woodpecker @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
A couple of lovely local walks in the sun today - Kestrels, Yellowhammers, Red Kites and woodland flowers at Dale Abbey (including what I think is my 1st ever Toothwort). 1st Swallows, Brown Hares & another lovely close Red Kite at #lockopark @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
A fantastic walk with a freelance writer today to look at and talk about our Dark Peak Mountain Hares (& hopefully help highlight their sad decline) - we had great views of a couple along with a Wheatear, pairs of Curlew & Raven, Golden Plover, Red Grouse & Buzzard @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social
Reedbeds, Dawn Choruses, Ospreys and Green Hairstreaks - April's newsletter from Natural Derbyshire Tours is now available @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social 👇 www.naturalderbyshiretours.uk/april-newsle... #walking #Derbyshire #april #wildlife #naturalderbyshiretours
1st day of BST? It felt more like winter had returned to the Dark Peak today. Neither our group nor the Mountain Hares much appreciating the brisk,v.cold cold wind - at least the Hares were able to hunker down! We found 2 animals and managed decent scope views. Curlew & spangly Golden Plover too 😊
Great day out in the Peaks - 3 Ring Ouzel were my first of the year and included a colour ringed male. 5 sp. of wader back on territory included calling Golden Plover, 6+ Curlew, 2 chipping Snipe, plenty of Lapwing & a pair of Oystercatcher @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social
Woodpeckers, Lesser Redpolls, a brief Woodlark, Red Kites and showy singing Stonechats were the highlights from our 'Best of North Notts' walk this morning. A fabulous group enjoyed the sun, scenery and birds at @rspb.bsky.social Sherwood and Budby today #UKBirding #birds #nottinghamshire
