peter hill
Well-known member
With the promise of a lovely day, I thought I'd do one of my long walks. setting off from Combs Res at 7am I started the day off by seeing 2 greater spotted woodpeckers, 1 was drumming. Leaving the peckers behind I set off by the side of the res and saw a couple of Greater Crested Grebes and a hundred or so Canada Geese. Nothing much else on the reservoir apart from a few mallards and a couple of coots. The climb out of Combs village saw the visibility deteriorating. By the time I reached the higher ground the mist was making it difficult to see the meadow pipits that were calling. As I approached the roman road I could hear the calls of the curlews and l;ater saw them feeding in one of the boggy fields I crossed. These were also joined by a flock of lapwings. Just before reaching Errwood dam a carrion crow was seen mobbing a buzzard. The walk along the road turned up a couple of Mistle thrushes and a couple of fly over ravens. Also I spotted a grey wagtail. Much further up the valley, I stopped for a coffee and met a guy who was feeding the birds by putting out peanuts and seeds on a tree stump. I captured nuthatches,coal tit and blue tit after he'd gone (with my camera). Progressing farther on I was pleased to see 2 dippers on the infant Goyt. Then it was up and over the tops to Buxton via Burbage edge, the only distraction being a few red grouse. A look round the Pavillion Gardens threw up the usual tufted ducks but nothing of note.