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Bird Report

The following is an account of the birds reported in the Hope Valley recording area in recent times. There are also summaries for the current and past years.

Mute Swan

A very rare visitor. A first winter bird was spotted on the flashes at Hathersage in February 2018.

Black Swan

There is now a small feral population of this Australian Swan in the U.K. Last reported in April 2017.

Whooper Swan

Occasionally seen flying over the valley on migration. A pair were reported on the flashes at Hathersage in March 2021.

Pink-footed Goose

Fairly regularly seen flying over the valley on migration.

Greylag Goose

Fairly uncommon visitor. Increasingly being seen in the valley since 2020 with a growing population on Ladybower reservoir..

Canada Goose

Common resident. Breeding on the Derwent around Hathersage and Froggatt since 2009. Large numbers on the Derwent valley reservoirs during the summer months.

Barnacle Goose

Very rare visitor. One was reported with Canada Geese above Ladybower dam in March 2012 - assumed to be a feral bird.

Mandarin Duck

Common resident.

Wigeon

Scarce winter visitor. The latest report was of several on the flashes at Hathersage in March 2021.

Gadwall

Scarce visitor. The latest report was of a pair on flooded fields at Froggat in April 2012.

Teal

Uncommon winter visitor. Tend to appear on the flashes at Hathersage in wet winters.

Mallard

Very common resident.

Garganey

Very scarce summer visitor. The latest report was from Hathersage in May 2015.

Shoveler

Very scarce winter visitor. Last report was of a couple of drakes on the flashes at Hathersage in April 2022.

Tufted Duck

Uncommon visitor. A few birds are fairly regularly found on the river above Calver weir but there are no records of successful breeding.

Goldeneye

Scarce winter visitor. The latest report was of a drake near the stepping stone at Hathersage in December 2012.

Red-breasted Merganser

Scarce summer visitor. Once regularly reported as a breeding bird on the Derwent. There have been no reports since April 2011.

Goosander

Fairly common resident. Breeding on both the Derwent and the Noe in recent years.

Red-legged Partridge

Scarce resident. More released for shooting in recent years.

Red Grouse

Fairly common resident. Regularly reported in small numbers below the gritsone edges.

Black Grouse

The last report was of a single bird on Burbage Moor in January 2012. The re-introduction programme on the upper Derwent seems to have failed as there have been no sightings since then.

Grey Partridge

Very scarce resident.

Pheasant

Very common resident.

Cormorant

Fairly common. Most often seen flying along the river to and from regular haunts around Ladybower reservoir.

Little Egret

Very scarce visitor. First reported in the valley in 2012 and last reported on the flashes at Hathersage in April 2021.

Grey Heron

Common resident.

White Stork

Vagrant. Four birds passed through in June 2012 and spent a few hours in a field at Bamford.

Little Grebe

Uncommon resident. Regular breeding pair on pools above Calver Crossroads

Great Crested Grebe

Status in the valley unclear. The only reports are from the Hope Cement fishing ponds. Last reported there in March 2021 after an absence of 6 years.

Honey Buzzard

Rare passage migrant. Last reported over Calver in June 2018.

Red Kite

Uncommon visitor. The number of reports from the valley is gradually increasing. Reported in the valley most months now.

White-tailed Eagle

Vary rare visitor.The last report was of one over Calver in May 2023.

Lammergeier

Vagrant. A juvenile female from the Alpine re-introduction programme arrived in Derbyshire in June 2020 and remained to the end of July.

Hen Harrier

Very scarce. Last report was of a bird above Hathersage at Dennis Knoll in April 2023.

Goshawk

Uncommon resident. Confusion with the more common Sparrowhawk probably means this bird is very much under-reported.

Sparrowhawk

Common resident.

Buzzard

Common resident.

Osprey

Uncommon passage migrant. Most recent report was of a bird over over Froggatt in May 2022.

Kestrel

Common resident.

Merlin

"Scarce. Most recent report was of a bird crossing the main road by the Millstone Inn, Hathesage, in January 2020."

Hobby

"Latest report was from Laneside Farm, Hope, in June 2020."

Water Rail

Very scarce. The latest report was from Calver Marshes in April 2015.

Moorhen

Very common resident.

Coot

Common resident. Breeding on a regular basis around Froggatt.

Crane

Very rare visitor. One reported over Edale in October 2009. One reported over Hathersage in September 2015.

Oystercatcher

Summer visitor.

Golden Plover

"Scarce summer visitor at lower levels, but breeding on the moors. Most recently reported around Dennis Knoll in March 2021"

Dotterel

Rare passage migrant. Reported around Stanage Edge in May 2009. A pair were on Abney Moor in May 2010 and a single bird in the same area in May 2011.

Lapwing

Fairly common summer resident. Regularly reported above Hathersage around Scraperlow/Mitchell Field/Callow Bank.

Whimbrel

Very scarce passage migrant. Last report was of a bird over Longshaw in April 2023.

Curlew

Fairly common summer resident. Regularly reported arond the gritstone edges.

Common Sandpiper

Uncommon summer visitor. Last recorded in the valley in spring 2023.

Greenshank

Very scarce visitor. One was reported on flooded fields near Froggatt Bridge for a few days in May 2012.

Woodcock

Fairly common resident. Very much under-recorded as a result of its crepuscular nature.

Snipe

Fairly common resident. Regularly reported arond the gritstone edges.

Black-headed Gull

Uncommon visitor. Infrequently seen flying over to roosts/feeding areas outside of the valley. Last reported in April 2020.

Common Gull

Scarce visitor. Last report was of a bird around Curbar Gap in November 2011.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Fairly common visitor. Regularly seen flying over to roosts/feeding areas outside of the valley.

Herring Gull

Uncommon visitor. Infrequently seen flying over to roosts/feeding areas outside of the valley. Last reported in October 2014.

Feral Pigeon

Fairly common resident.

Stock Dove

Fairly common resident.

Woodpigeon

Very common resident.

Collared Dove

Very common resident.

Cuckoo

Fairly common summer resident. Regularly reported around Burbage and Longshaw.

Barn Owl

Uncommon resident. Regular sightings in the valley since 2016 with several pairs now breeding in the valley.

Little Owl

Uncommon resident. Sightings mostly around Castleton and in the Edale valley.

Tawny Owl

Common resident. Most often heard in late winter.

Long-eared Owl

Very scarce resident. Reported around Burbage Valley and below Stanage in 2020.

Short-eared Owl

Scarce. Latest report was of a bird iover Sickleholme golf course in March 2019.

Nightjar

Scarce summer resident. Now breeding regularly in the Burbage valley.

Swift

Common summer resident.

Hoopoe

Vagrant. Last reported in Curbar in May 2008.

Kingfisher

Uncommon resident. Reported more frequently since 2014 after a series of milder winters.

Bee-eater

Vagrant. One was reported over White Edge in June 2019.

Green Woodpecker

Status unclear. A fairly common resident before 2020 but only two reports since 2019.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Common resident.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Very scarce (possibly resident). Last reported in Padley Gorge in July 2023.

Peregrine

Scarce resident.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Very rare visitor. Last recorded near the Travellers Rest in November 2023.

Golden Oriole

"Very rare passage migrant. Last reported at Bee Wood, Froggatt in June 2016."

Red-backed Shrike

Very rare summer visitor. Last reported in Padley Gorge for one day in June 2013.

Great Grey Shrike

Very scarce winter visitor. Last report was of a bird above Hathersage in February 2020.

Magpie

Very common resident.

Jay

Common resident.

Jackdaw

Very common resident.

Rook

Very common resident.

Carrion Crow

Very common resident.

Raven

Uncommon resident.

Goldcrest

Common resident.

Blue Tit

Very common resident.

Great Tit

Very common resident.

Coal Tit

Very common resident.

Willow Tit

Status in the valley unclear. Latest report was of a bird on feeders at Longshaw over the winter 2023/2024

Marsh Tit

Status in the valley unclear. Latest report was of a bird on feeders at Longshaw over the winter 2023/2024

Skylark

Uncommon resident. Found on the higher ground rather than on the valley bottom.

Sand Martin

Very scarce. Nearest known breeding colony in Chatsworth Park. Flock reporrted at Grindleford in April 2023.

Swallow

Very common summer resident.

House Martin

Very common summer resident.

Long-tailed Tit

Very common resident.

Wood Warbler

"Scarce summer resident. Recorded most years in Padley Woods and sometimes around Bretton Clough and beneath Millstone Edge, Hathersage."

Chiff Chaff

Very common summer resident.

Willow Warbler

Very common summer resident.

Blackcap

Very common summer resident.

Garden Warbler

Fairly common summer resident.

Lesser Whitethroat

Scarce summer resident. Last recorded on Sickleholme golf course in May 2020.

Whitethroat

Fairly common summer resident.

Grasshopper Warbler

Fairly scarce summer resident. A few birds noted reeling in most years.

Sedge Warbler

Very scarce summer visitor. Last recorded around Calver in June 2018.

Waxwing

Rare winter visitor. Latest reports were in Hathersage and Banmford in the winter of 2023/2024

Nuthatch

Common resident.

Treecreeper

Common resident.

Wren

Very common resident.

Starling

Fairly common resident

Rose-coloured Starling

Very rare visitor. A single bird was reported at Curbar at a feeding station in May 2009 and again in June 2014.

Dipper

Locally common resident. Breeding on the Derwent and the Noe.

Ring Ouzel

"Locally common summer resident. Around the gritstone edges - particularly Stanage and Burbage,"

Blackbird

Very common resident.

Fieldfare

Fairly common winter visitor.

Song Thrush

Common resident.

Redwing

Fairly common winter visitor.

Mistle Thrush

Common resident.

Spotted Flycatcher

Uncommon summer resident.

Robin

Very common resident.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Vagrant. Reported at Longshaw in October 2014.

Pied Flycatcher

Locally common summer resident. Stronghold in Padley woods and North Lees above Hathersage.

Black Redstart

Very scarce visitor. Last reported around Bamford Edge in March 2022.

Redstart

Fairly common summer resident. There seem to be good numbers around in recent years.

Whinchat

Uncommon summer resident. Recorded regularly Callow Bank and also above Padley Woods.

Stonechat

Fairly common resident in suitable habitat.

Wheatear

Fairly common summer resident.

Dunnock

Very common resident.

House Sparrow

Common resident. Numbers appear to be increasing in recent years.

Tree Sparrow

Very scarce visitor. First record in 2007 after many years - 1 in Hathersage and another in Hope. Recorded in Froggatt in March 2008. Latest records are of single birds in Hathersage and Edale in March 2011.

Yellow Wagtail

Very scarce visitor. Last reported above Bretton Clough in May 2012.

Grey Wagtail

Fairly common resident. Breeding on the Derwent and the Noe.

Pied Wagtail

Fairly common resident.

Tree Pipit

Fairly common summer resident.

Meadow Pipit

Common resident in suitable habitat.

Brambling

Uncommon winter visitor.

Chaffinch

Very common resident.

Hawfinch

Very rare visitor. Last reported when a single bird was visiting bird feeders in Hathersage in May and June 2016.

Bullfinch

Fairly common resident.

Greenfinch

Fairly common resident. Numbers are growing slowly but steadily since he outbreak of trichomoniasis drastically reduce numbers betwween 2008 and 2012.

Linnet

Uncommon resident. Mainly found on the higher ground under the gritstone edges and above the quarries in the south.

Twite

"Status in the valley unclear, believed to be a rare visitor. Last report was of a single bird at Hathersage in September 2022."

Lesser Redpoll

Uncommon resident. Recorded more frequently in recent years.

Crossbill

Scarce visitor. Last report was of two birds at the top of Parkin Clough on the slopes of Win Hill in January 2020.

Goldfinch

Very common resident.

Siskin

Fairly common resident. Mainly seen in winter although it is likely small numbers may now breed in the valley around the Ladybower area.

Snow Bunting

Very rare winter visitor. One reported at Stanage Edge in November 2012 and another spent much of the winter into February 2020 near the summit of Mam Tor.

Yellowhammer

Scarce resident. The only regular reports are from the Bretton Clough area.

Reed Bunting

Uncommon resident. Mostly recorded below the gritstone edges.

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