Padley Gorge

Steve Judge · Status: Offline

RE: Padley Gorge

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

Sunday 28th 8.30-12.00

Enjoyable birding at Padley Gorge as ever, and like many other birding locations I discovered it via this forum. Since the reports from earlier in the month I can add for today a singing Wood Warbler, a nice yeartick as I didn't make it to the Brushes one...also a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, pair of Redstarts and 2 singing Tree Pipits, as well as 6 or 7 male Pied Flycatchers and a couple of females presumably taking a break from incubating eggs. Heard Cuckoo but didn't see one, they always seemed distant

Rob Smith · Status: Offline

From yesterday

Pied Flycatcher - 4 males & female

Spotted Flycatcher - 1 singing bird that went elusive

Common Redstart - male showing & singing well

Cuckoo - 3, 2 males fighting over nearby female

Grey Wagtail

Dipper

also Garden & Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Chiffchaff

Treecreeper - several inc 2 fighting

Reed Bunting - male, unusually singing on edge of moorland

Moorland above the gorge

Ring Ouzel - male

Mistle Thrush - 2

Curlew - 2

Kestrel - 2

Stonechat - pair feeding young

Willow Warbler & Wren singing from among Heather, Bilberry & occasional birch

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Couple of hours here this afternoon with Mike A in the upper part of the gorge, after our visit to Brushes. Almost immediately onto a smart male Pied Flycatcher calling, possibly in response to two (unseen) Blackbirds further back scolding, which flushed a Tawny Owl. The male Pied or another returned to the same area soon after then headed away down the gorge. Following a chat with a birder/photographer we checked out the area near the 'crossroads' and located 2 of the 4 males he'd seen there, one chasing off the other, with a female watching. The showers and wind out on the moorland may have dampened the spirits of the single Tree Pipit reported by our informant, and there was no definite news on either Redstart or Spotted Flycatcher. Plenty of Wrens, Robins, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch and Nuthatch about though.

A short stroll on the moorland at the top of the gorge produced, several Meadow Pipits, a pair each of Grey and Pied Wagtails (the latter with nesting material), 1 Jay, a pair of Mallard, and, just as we commented on the lack of Stonechats, a female carrying nesting material into a site. A pair of Common Swifts near Grindleford were my first of the year.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Woodland : 2m+2f Pied Flycatchers (1m calling) and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

Adjoining moorland : 1 Cuckoo (Being chased by a pair of Meadow Pipits), 3 Kestrels,

1 Grey Heron and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Highlights from an early morning visit today to the gorge and surrounding moorland

1 Wood Warbler - a very approachable singing male
4 Pied Flycatcher - 3m,1f - including 2 singing males
3 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Redstart - males singing - 1 seen
2 Cuckoo calling - 1 seen
1 Tree Pipit
3 Treecreeper
5 Nuthatch
1 Red Grouse
1 Curlew
2 Stonechat
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Siskin
Numerous Meadow Pipit

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Highlights of today's High Peak RSPB group trip from 08.55-15.00, including a walk around the Longshaw Estate.

1 very showy Wood Warbler, 6+ Pied Flycatcher, 4 Redstart, 2 Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher, 2+ Cuckoo, Dipper, 2 Siskin, 5 Mandarin Duck, 5 Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Blackcap, 15 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Common Buzzard. A few images attached.

Stuart Pike · Status: Offline

Evening Visit 6:15 to 8pm

1 male Pied Flycatcher took a lot of searching to find. Also 1 Tree Pipit feeding in an oak on the edge of the wood up by the moor, with a distant Cuckoo briefly heard from the same spot. 1 Dipper from the bridge over the stream back near Grindleford Station. It was a close run thing as to wether the Grey Squirrels outnumbered the birds this evening.

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

An early morning visit, focusing on the gorge, and it was bird packed.
2 Wood Warbler - Both were singing in different areas, but one seemed to have problem with it's left eye.
8 Pied Flycatchers
3 Spotted Flycatchers
5 Redstart
3 Treecreepers
1 Siskin
2 Dippers on the river at Grindleford Station
Curlew and Cuckoo both heard
Lots of other activity in the woodland.

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

Meant to add other wildlife seen today:
Butterflies:
3 Wall Brown
4 Small Copper
8 Small Heath
1 Brimstone

Hundreds of day flying moths which I think were Latticed Heaths

1 Weasel ran across the road

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

07.00-14.00
I visited this area today for the first time. A stunning place! Parked at Grindleford train station and walked through Padley Gorge up and onto the Longshaw Estate then on to the moorland. An early start to avoid the people and the predicted hot weather and glad I did! By mid day the area was heaving with picnic-ers (many not very socially distanced) and walkers, so I called it a day soon after as Id seen most of what Id came for, and it was getting very warm.

Highlights - all seen:
1 Wood Warbler - singing
3 Pied Flycatcher - 2m,1f
4 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Redstart - both males singing
6 Tree Pipit - singing and displaying
2-3 Cuckoo - calling frequently- 2 seen - 1 very well
2 Mandarin Duck
3 Red Grouse
5 Stonechat
6 Siskin - family group
4 Curlew
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Kestrel- family group together over the moors
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Skylark -singing
6 Nuthatch
1 Tawny Owl - called briefly but not seen

Unfortunately couldnt find any Ring Ouzels despite a good search of likely areas on the moors but by this time lots of walkers about and very warm.

Ill be back again!

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

A stroll from Grindleford Train Station up through the Gorge and part of the Longshaw Estate 08.30-14.00

1+ Wood Warbler, 4 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Redstart, 1+ Tree Pipit, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Treecreeper, Curlew, 2 Kestrel, 4 Stonechat, Common Buzzard, 2 Cuckoo, 4 Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, 3 Jay, Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, 20+Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Nuthatch, 5 Swift, Red Grouse

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Another great day spent around here today; through the gorge, across the Longshaw Estate and onto White Edge Moor:

4+ goldcrest
3 chiffchaff
18 willow warbler
5 blackcap
4 spotted flycatcher
3 pied flycatcher
7 treecreeper
10+ nuthatch
1 siskin
3 lesser redpoll
2 swallow
6+ stonechat
18 meadow pipit
2 tree pipit
1 grey wagtail
3 skylark
4 song thrush
2 or 3 ring ouzel (including a juvenile)
7+ mistle thrush
4 jay
1 grey partridge
1 red grouse heard
2 mandarin duck
3 curlew
1 hobby
1 buzzard

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Fantastic day spent here today; from 9-5:

2 goldcrest heard
4 chiffchaff
27 willow warbler
11 blackcap
1 garden warbler
10+ pied flycatcher
4+ spotted flycatcher
2 treecreeper
12 nuthatch
2 linnet
2 reed bunting heard
4 swallow
4 redstart
8+ stonechat (inc fledglings)
25+ meadow pipit
3 tree pipit
3 skylark
6 song thrush
4 or 5 ring ouzel
4 mistle thrush
2 cuckoo (one seen, one heard distantly; assumed separate)
2 swift
5 mandarin duck
3 curlew
1 or 2 kestrel
1 buzzard

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Another fabulous day spent around here today; pretty grey day, chilly at times when the wind got up, but stayed dry. Same route as before.

3 goldcrest
2 chiffchaff heard
17 willow warbler
3 blackcap
1 spotted flycatcher (and that took some finding)
c15 pied flycatcher (mostly fledglings)
10 treecreeper
11 nuthatch
8 swallow
4 stonechat (pair and fledglings)
2 whinchat
3 redstart (male taking food to nest, female feeding fledgling)
22 meadow pipit
1 tree pipit
4 grey wagtail
3 skylark
9 song thrush
2 mistle thrush
1 jay
6 swift
6 great spotted woodpecker
1 green woodpecker heard
3 Mandarin duck
2 woodcock
2 curlew
2 kestrel

As well as the breeding evidence above, also fledgling tits, nuthatch, robin and meadow pipit, and willow warbler and song thrush both gathering insects. Obviously an extremely productive day, but two spotted flycatchers in two visits doesn't sound very healthy; perhaps an early first visit and then a dull, chilly day today played a part, I hope so, anyway. Pied flycatchers seem to be filling their boots, though.

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

Monday 21st 8.30-16.00

A stunning day up on the Longshaw Estate with Chris Chandler, we took the day off work and relished the lack of people compared to a weekend day.

Sightings much the same as Shannon, less diligent though in failing to count the numbers of the commoner birds! First time exploring the quarry and Bolehill Wood, and also Granby Woods up to the Longshaw house, where we found a proudly singing Redstart.

All the specialities were present and showing well, we did get brilliant views of a Cuckoo as well, as 2 birds sang at each other one of them flew past us at close range. A few more Spotted Flycatchers were in too, we saw 3 or 4 and one obvious pair amongst them. Another funny one was a Red Grouse apparently sunbathing on one of the large stones of Owler Tor.

Also a first ever Green Hairstreak found on the moor edges, very happy with that

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Another day spent around this fabulous place today. From Grindleford station, through the gorge, Longshaw Estate and onto White Edge Moor (I think it's called):

1 goldcrest heard
5 chiffchaff
18 willow warbler
1 wood warbler
6 blackcap
1 spotted flycatcher
18 pied flycatcher
1 treecreeper
5 nuthatch
3 linnet
6 swallow
1 stonechat
4 redstart
21 meadow pipit
1 tree pipit
1 or 2 grey wagtail
1 or 2 dipper
2 skylark
4 song thrush
3 mistle thrush
1 jay
2 great spotted woodpecker
1 cuckoo heard
3 Mandarin duck
1 little grebe
1 curlew
2 kestrel
1 or 2 buzzard

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Another day here again today; same route as my post below, though my wander over the moorland edges was cut short due to heavy rain. Highlights:

4 goldcrest
4 chiffchaff
4 blackcap
c15 willow warbler
Lots of fledgling coal tit.
6 spotted flycatcher
10+ pied flycatcher, with lots of activity around nest boxes.
5 treecreeper
10+ nuthatch, including fledglings.
1 siskin
10+ swallow
1 whinchat
3 redstart
1 dipper
c20 meadow pipit
3 tree pipit
1 pied wagtail
3+ grey wagtail, including at least one fledgling.
2 skylark
5 song thrush
1 mistle thrush
1 jay
5+ swift
2 great spotted woodpecker heard
1 kestrel
1 buzzard

Best views I've had of tree pipit and whinchat (a beautiful male), too; another great day out here.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

First visit to this lovely place from 11-2 today. Walked up the right hand side of the gorge from Grindleford station, lunch as the woods opened out, then back down the left hand side. Left hand side definitely more productive. Highlights:

Wood Warbler by quarry, Redstart, Pied Flycather, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Blackcap, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, numerous Willow Warbler and Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, Dipper, 3 Grey Wagtail.

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

The annual visit to Padley Gorge with Chris Chandler, not to be derailed by drizzly rain as we reasoned the oak tree canopy would be plenty of shelter for the birds we wanted to see and they would still be active.

Lots of birds as ever including the headliners:
Wood Warbler
Redstart
Tree Pipit
Pied Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher

The Tree Pipits and Redstarts were a bit more subdued than I've seen in the past, but the flycatchers were showing as well as ever.

This is a gorgeous spot even in the rain and mist, we had a great few hours.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Day spent around here today; from Grindleford station, up through the woodland gorge, through the Longshaw Estate and up onto the moorland edges. Fantastic day for it, apart from a heavy shower in the early afternoon (where I found a handy pine shelter someone'd built and watched a pair of robin gather insects); highlights:

8 goldcrest
9 chiffchaff
20+ willow warbler
3 blackcap heard singing
9+ spotted flycatcher
10+ pied flycatcher
7 treecreeper
5 nuthatch
2+ siskin
2 linnet over
10+ swallow
5 stonechat
1 whinchat
3 redstart
1 dipper
20+ meadow pipit
3 pied wagtail
6 skylark heard singing
5 song thrush
4 mistle thrush
3 great spotted woodpecker
1 green woodpecker
1 cuckoo heard fairly distantly
4 Mandarin duck
2 or 3 curlew heard
1 sparrowhawk
1 buzzard heard

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Sunday 14th of May 2017 10:50:05 PM

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Day spent here today; same route as below, but didn't make it onto the moors this time. The gorge itself was very quiet (unsurprisingly, considering the time of year), although there were lots of very active and vocal coal tits around. Still, though, some great species seen during the day, in what was another extremely enjoyable day out here (despite a bit of leaden-leggedness at times!); highlights:

2 goldcrest
3+ willow warbler
1 spotted flycatcher
4 treecreeper
5 nuthatch
5 siskin
3+ bullfinch (at least two juvenile)
1 dipper
4 stonechat (female and three juveniles)
1 wheatear (juvenile)
6 swallow
4 meadow pipit
1 tree pipit
1 grey wagtail
2 jay
1 Mandarin
1 woodcock
1 kestrel

Another new butterfly species for me, too; a couple of dark green fritillary. :)

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 12th June.
Afternoon visit with Simon Gough.

- Redstart 3 (1 pr feeding a brood, another male later)
- Pied Flycatcher 5 (3m 2f)
- Tree Pipit 2 (1 singing & parachuting, 1 over)
- Meadow Pipit
- Blackcap 1m
- Willow Warbler
- Chiffchaff
- Goldcrest 2
- Grey Wagtail 5 (1 then 4 together)
- Nuthatch 2
- Reed Bunting 2
- Stonechat 2
- Mistle Thrush
- Cuckoo heard only
- Green Woodpecker heard only

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Fabulous day spent here today. From Grindleford station, through the gorge, up to through the Longshaw Estate, across, and then a wander about the moorland edges and the various wooded habitats around there:

3 goldcrest heard singing
Chiffchaff, willow warbler (lots), blackcap
1 wood warbler (first one I've seen)
4 spotted flycatcher
8 pied flycatcher
8 treecreeper (several taking food to nests)
4 nuthatch
6 siskin
1 reed bunting heard
2 redstart (one heard only)
25+ meadow pipit (one with food)
4 tree pipit (one with food)
2 pied wagtail
1 grey wagtail
3 skylark
Song and mistle thrush
2 great spotted woodpecker (one heard drumming)
1 cuckoo
5 mandarin (two females over when waiting for train home; three drakes on pond)
4 (or 6) curlew

Also another first for me; a green hairstreak up on the moorland edges. Stunning little creature.

Had a superb day.

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

A run out to Padley Gorge with Chris Chandler and Jim Burnett, to get Jim onto some Pied Flycatchers that wouldn't be too common down in the Southern Counties. Arrived about 12 and left just after 4.

Some stunning views in stunning weather, it was lovely.

First good birds were a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, followed by a pair of Pied Flycatchers. We got onto the Pieds through seeing a Great Spotted Woodpecker land on a tree. The flycatchers started mobbing it, the male first then joined by the female. Amazing! The woodpecker got the message in the end!

We ended up seeing a lot of birds, at least 12-13 Spotted and the same of Pied, they outnumbered everything else! We were bowled over by the numbers of the Flycatchers, it was really something. We'll get Jim back every year if we see double figures of these birds each time.

Up on the moor edge we saw a singing Tree Pipit doing its parachute display, a pair of Redstarts and then a second male Redstart and a second Tree Pipit, showing superbly feeding on the ground. There were Wood Ants everywhere, and the birds were clearly cashing in. Also a Cuckoo was heard up there.

Finally walking down to the station, Chris heard a Wood Warbler singing, and we just had time to watch him banging away before we went for the train.

Top stuff

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

The day spent here today, walking from the station through the woodland, up to the visitor centre, and then across the grassland behind it to the moorland edge; a lovely day, with some great species seen, the highlights of which were:

2 goldcrest
2 treecreeper
2 spotted flycatcher
2 pied flycatcher
5 grey wagtail
3 pied wagtail
c20 meadow pipit
1 tree pipit
5 redstart
1 stonechat
4 skylark
1 siskin
4 reed bunting
2 curlew
2 kestrel

Assorted coal tits, swallows, willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, song thrush and all the usual woodland birds.

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

A decent session at Padley Gorge today from 0800-1400. Quite a few birders present, met guys from Derby, Cambridge and Northampton up for the day to enjoy the mature Oak woodland.

In Padley Wood
Pied Flycatcher 6 - 2 pairs and 2 other singing males
Redstart 3 - A pair and a second male
Wood Warbler 1 - a singing male, stunning bird, first ever for me. Thanks to Paul and Clive who helped me get onto this bird initially. I found it again myself later but that first sighting I was a bit nervy!
Spotted Flycatcher 3 - A pair calling to each other and a single
Plenty of other classic woodland birds, 6+ of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Treecreepers, a nice pair of Coal Tits feeding a nest, a singing Goldcrest, it was superb stuff

Up on the moor edge
Cuckoo 1-2 - There were 2 birds singing at the same time and I think I saw both, but not where they could be located at the same time
Tree Pipit 1 - A nice singing bird
Stonechat 5 - A family group, a pair looking after a few fledged young
Linnet 4-5 - A few about, a couple of singers
Also a possible Whinchat amongst the Stonechats; a bird showed a very strong supercilium, but I couldn't rustle it up again. Mustn't be greedy anyway...

At one point Wood Warbler, Pied Fly and Tree Pipit were singing at the same time in my earshot, which was a bit intense when I'm not exactly an expert on these species, plus where do you look?!

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Simon Gough wrote:

I followed Tim's excellent advice and visited Padley Gorge today looking for Flycatchers. For any other public transport victims this site is a peach, within 10 minutes walk of Grindleford station you're in the heart of the woods and some great birds

I saw:
Redstart 1 pair plus 2 other males, also heard only a loud male at the station
Pied Flycatcher 2 pairs plus a 3rd male, sure there were a good number of pairs in there
Tree Pipit 2 1 displaying and singing from a tree perch up the hill on the edge of the wood, the other ground-feeding and washing in a puddle in the wood.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 1 male and I think a female of a pair, they were in the same area
Coal Tit 2 attending young
Jay 1 pair
Blackcap female
Treecreeper 3
Nuthatch 2
Sparrowhawk over
Lots of other parents, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Mistle Thrush, Robin

No Spotted Flycatchers for me, which would have been the icing on the cake, but it was great cake already. No sign of Wood Warbler either, which was a real long shot I think

I read Ian M's pipit identification article recently, the gist of which is that even if you think its a Tree Pipit it isn't, just go home and stop dreaming, but these 2 were excellent for me as the diagnostic process was very rewarding, and it is a lifer for me today. The displaying bird had the wedge beak, fine belly streaks and perfect head plumage, plus obviously it was displaying from tree to tree and singing loudly. The second bird was showing to the extent I could see the stealthier movement and shorter back toe over the Meadow Pipit. Plus it was in a wood! Joking aside the amount of depth in the notes in the article plus my trusty Collins allowed me to be conclusive and I can store away the memories for a day when it is less clear.

The Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers were wonderful to watch, you're able to get tremendous views and really revel in the plumage and behaviour.

A great day birding all in all, and it didn't even rain

-- Edited by Simon Gough on Sunday 8th of June 2014 06:25:37 PM

Excellent stuff Simon I knew you wouldn't leave disappointed

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

I followed Tim's excellent advice and visited Padley Gorge today looking for Flycatchers. For any other public transport victims this site is a peach, within 10 minutes walk of Grindleford station you're in the heart of the woods and some great birds

I saw:
Redstart 1 pair plus 2 other males, also heard only a loud male at the station
Pied Flycatcher 2 pairs plus a 3rd male, sure there were a good number of pairs in there
Tree Pipit 2 1 displaying and singing from a tree perch up the hill on the edge of the wood, the other ground-feeding and washing in a puddle in the wood.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 1 male and I think a female of a pair, they were in the same area
Coal Tit 2 attending young
Jay 1 pair
Blackcap female
Treecreeper 3
Nuthatch 2
Sparrowhawk over
Lots of other parents, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Mistle Thrush, Robin

No Spotted Flycatchers for me, which would have been the icing on the cake, but it was great cake already. No sign of Wood Warbler either, which was a real long shot I think

I read Ian M's pipit identification article recently, the gist of which is that even if you think its a Tree Pipit it isn't, just go home and stop dreaming, but these 2 were excellent for me as the diagnostic process was very rewarding, and it is a lifer for me today. The displaying bird had the wedge beak, fine belly streaks and perfect head plumage, plus obviously it was displaying from tree to tree and singing loudly. The second bird was showing to the extent I could see the stealthier movement and shorter back toe over the Meadow Pipit. Plus it was in a wood! Joking aside the amount of depth in the notes in the article plus my trusty Collins allowed me to be conclusive and I can store away the memories for a day when it is less clear.

The Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers were wonderful to watch, you're able to get tremendous views and really revel in the plumage and behaviour.

A great day birding all in all, and it didn't even rain

-- Edited by Simon Gough on Sunday 8th of June 2014 06:25:37 PM

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Another year another great annual visit with Tony Darby

Redstart - pair together and a male singing at the top of the gorge (another pair at least present seen by others)
Pied Flycatcher - 3 pairs feeding young at least
Spotted Flycatcher - only one seen briefly
Tree Pipit - superb views of two singing on territories on the edge of the moor
Cuckoo - pair. The female flew in off the moor and bubbled in a tree nearby. Then the calling male came in to join it smile

Treecreeper 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker - pair feeding young plus 2 more
Nuthatch only 1 strangely

Nev Wright · Status: Offline

1230-1530
Quite busy with visitors generally; Longshaw Estate and Padley Gorge

Spotted flycatcher...but no Pied flycatcher today
Wood Warbler
Redstart
Dipper
plus usual woodland birds
smile

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

The annual visit to this great site with Tony Darby today was the best yet. You hardly ever see any other birders here weirdly. Check it out

Spotted Flycatcher 3
Pied Flycatcher 6 - all but one male
Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher in view at the same time!
Tree Pipit 3 singing in trees on the lower edges of the gorge - never seen them down there before only on the top part
Redstart pair gathering insects - superbly close views of a very bright male
Nuthatch 3
Treecreepr 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 3

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

Went up the Gorge yesterday with the express intent of getting Wood Warbler and Spotted Fly. No luck on the former, but 3 of the latter including a juvenile. Also saw Pied Fly (a splendid male, very tame, sat on a fence post where the forest ends), several Nuthatch including young, Willow Warbler, GSW, and dozens of juvenile Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Wren, and, what may have been a juvenile Goldcrest.

jason fisher · Status: Offline

went for a mooch down the gorge today.

how do you get a highlight out of
wood warbler
stone chat
redstart
pied flycatcher
spotted flycatcher
2 calling cuckoo

they're all highlights