Natural Derbyshire Tours

A female abseiler in a green helmet smiles at the camera whilst hanging in front of a wooden peregrine nest platform on the side of a cathedral tower

Wooden nest platform with its base removed

View through a new peregrine nest box with a sunny city landscape beyond.

New peregrine falcon nest box on the tower roof of Derby Cathedral.

Successful abseil today to remove the collapsing base of our 10 year old #peregrine falcon nest platform, and the installation of a new nest box and camera on the tower roof.

Webcams are not yet configured - more work to be done tomorrow.

This week's #ethel - a walk up to Harland Edge (371m) was very much plan B for today (as thick mist clung on in the Derwent Valley until midday scuppering plan A) but wow what a difference some altitude made! Great views with a fine Peregrine & 1st upland Curlew of 2025😊 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

A man pokes his head up through the base of a large peregrine falcon nest box, with views over a city in the distance.

Today's the last day of National Nestbox Week!

So who's built a nice big one like ours?

#derbyperegrines
#nestbox
#ukbirding
#peregrinefalcon

Good point - I always assume the chestnut cap is a male but you are absolutely right 👍

A rainbow - can't remember too much sun but defo plenty of rain on a walk at Markeaton Stones/Lower Vicarwood Farm this afternoon! Male Tree Sparrow was worth the soaking, 12+ Skylark, 3 Yellowhammer, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Kestrel, Red Kite, Siskin & 4 Greenfinch @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Despite the mist (or possibly because of its cover) a good Partridge day at #lockopark - 6 Grey (3 & 3) and my 1st Red-legs of the year (4). 2 Skylark, 2 Yellowhammer, 5 Meadow Pipit, 30+ Linnet & big numbers of Siskin (120+) near the lake @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

Noisy green devils, iconic waders and frisky Hares - February's newsletter from Natural Derbyshire Tours is now available 👇 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

naturalderbyshiretours.uk/februarys-news…

Away for the weekend on the Lancs coast and a 1st visit to @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social this morning - a brilliant reserve with lovely, welcoming staff & volunteers. A family of 3 Otter were the highlight with 3 Bearded Tit, 3 Marsh Harrier & lovely views of Marsh Tit @rspb.bsky.social #UKBirding

A day of two halves - great to get distant but good scope views of the 3 Smew at Holme Pierrpont. My first for over 2 years and only my 2nd ever drake 😍. Then back into Derbyshire with a quick visit to Carsington Water (Willow Tit x 2) and a stroll up Harboro Rocks @nottswildlife.bsky.social #Ethels

The sound of late winter for me - a Mistle Thrush pouring its heart out at Notts Road Cemetery, Chaddesden this morning. A lovely, slightly melancholy song! 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 pairs of Stock Dove singing and beginning to display, 18+ Redwing & 3 Greenfinch @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

@rspb.bsky.social #BigGardenBirdwatch this morning and the Ivy in my Chaddesden garden packing a punch - a minimum of 11 Blackbird gorging, a skittish male Blackcap & even the House Sparrows getting stuck in! 😍 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Here Hare Here - lovely to catch a couple of Mountain Hare on today's walk. This week's Ethel was Higher Shelf Stones (628m. A bit blowy but otherwise a cracking morning! A single Golden Plover scything across the moors and plenty of grumbling Red Grouse (9+) #UKBirding @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

A bit wet and misty for our winter bird walk at #lockopark this morning but there were some great sightings for our lovely group - 2 Grey Partridge, 18 Lapwing, 2 Goosander, 8 Mandarin, Kingfisher and a first returning Oyc along with great views of Treecreeper and Brown @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Enjoyable walk up to Back Tor trying to get some hill miles in my legs (after a few weeks of torpor & cake!) so I'm not far off when guiding kicks off in earnest this Spring. Brambling (2), Red Grouse (11) & Golden Plover (c35) took me to 100 sp. for the year @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Fantastic visit to Attenborough NR this afternoon. The Scaup continues to show brilliantly along with loads of lovely wildfowl. A first Blackcap of the year made it a 3 Warbler day (with Chiff & Cetti's) along with Caspian Gull and a probable YL Gull @nottswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

Lovely winter bird walk at Notts Rd Cemetery for the Friends group this morning - plenty of Redwing (c30), 4 Fieldfare, 18 Greenfinch, female GS Woodpecker, male Goosander over and some obliging Goldfinch. Thanks to all the folk for braving the icy conditions! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

First session of the year at a misty #HighLeasFarm this morning - calling Tawny Owl, Crossbill, c25 Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 3 Bullfinch, 4 Nuthatch, 8 Jay, 100+ Redwing & Kestrel the pick of 30sp. Single Hawfinch & 3 Dipper at Cromford beforehand @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Derbyshire seems to be enjoying a good run of form with geese this winter - a lovely stroll along the frozen Trent & Mersey this morning to catch up with the Greater White Fronts at Aston. At least 8 still with Greylags, Egyptians & 4 Lapwing. GS Woodpecker drumming @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Quick after work dash to see the lovely drake RN Duck at Straw's Bridge - I thought the views at Shipley Lake were good but this was incredible. Nice to catch up with @samgod96.bsky.social & loving the Shoveler circle pit too! 😍 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

A brilliant effort and beat me by 3sp.! Happy New Year and looking forward to seeing you again in 2026

Locko Park lake

Fallow Buck & Does

Male Grey Partridge

Steady start to the birding year with a round 50sp at #lockopark today. Always great to get Grey Partridge (4) early with Kes, Sparrowhawk, Goosander (2), Mandarin (6), Treecreeper (3), Linnet (c35) & Fieldfare (c30) the other highlights. Plenty of Fallows too @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

It still blows my mind that I can now drive just 15 mins from home & reliably see Marsh Harrier! 🤯

3 different birds at @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Willington Wetlands today with Bittern, Red Kite, Peregrine, Redshank, 3 GWE, c200 Lapwing, 3+ Water Rail & Kingfisher @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

An enjoyable morning stroll at Cromford watching this Dipper singing and fishing from this fallen tree. Also 2 Hawfinch briefly, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Goosander on the river & 2 Little Grebe on the canal @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

A short blog on some of our nature highlights of 2025 👇 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
@derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

naturalderbyshiretours.uk/our-2025-natur…

Two good county birds for me today - the Slav Grebe at Foremark Reservoir was a welcome year tick and if that was a bit distant the lovely drake Ring-Necked Duck (county & year tick) made up for it with some great close up views 😍 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding

Urban birding on the Solstice - great to see a couple of pairs of Goosander on the Derwent with 4 singing Song Thrush nearby while Alvaston Park had a roosting Tawny Owl, a pair of Shoveler, 6+ RN Parakeet and 6 Common Gull @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

The newly reworked/repaired Sanctuary LNR - a couple of gravel beds installed and a series of ponds & scrapes filling up nicely! Lapwings have already visited with 25+ Starling, 3 Stock Dove & a curious Kingfisher today. Roll on March! Top work Derby Parks 👏 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Wonderful 90 mins at #lockopark this morning. Re-found one of the Little Owls that haven't been seen so far this year, a Water Rail was a patch tick, the juv female Peregrine still with 10+ Skylark, 10+ Linnet, 8 Mandarin & 25+ Fieldfare @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

Hawfinch

Hawfinch

Mistle Thrush

After a few storm/tree related travel disruptions we enjoyed a top day looking for Hawfinch & Crossbill in central Derbyshire.
2 Hawfinch showed early with Dipper, Mistle & Song Thrush & 50+ Siskin. Crossbill were heard only but a big skein of PFG (c150) made up for it! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social