Looking at birds & other wildlife in 2 different habitats - moorland and blanket bog. Involved classic walks with fabulous viewpoints. Excellent leader (Matthew Capper) with vast knowledge not only of the wildlife but also associated topics. We identified many species of birds.
A.G. Staffordshire, Jun 21
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The Peak District's 'Dark Peak' (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR99A day trip birdwatching in the beautiful Peak District National Park, featuring reservoirs, woodlands and the world-famous Pennine Way.
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Summary
Join naturalist Matthew Capper for a day out in the Dark Peak area of the beautiful Peak District National Park. We have several possible short walks and will choose two or three depending on the time of year and recent sightings and conditions. The day might begin with a range of moorland birds such as Ring Ouzel, Curlew, Whinchat and Wheatear. This might be paired with a short walk on a section of the world-famous Pennine Way. The blanket bog up here holds important populations of Golden Plover and Dunlin, and we may be lucky enough to see Mountain Hare – the only English population is here in the Peak District. Red Grouse should be visible and there could even be a bird of prey such as a Merlin or Short-eared Owl. If there is time, we can take a short drive to one of the nearby woodlands for species such as Pied Flycatcher and Redstart to round off what will hopefully be a great day in the Peaks! Please note that the walks will be ‘there and back’ and there is some fairly steep and rocky terrain at times. We expect to cover about 5 miles during the day.
- Ring Ouzel, Curlew, Whinchat and Wheatear all possible
- Chance to see England's only population of Mountain Hare
- Guided walks along the world-famous Pennine Way, and nearby reservoirs and woodlands
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Reviews
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This day exploring the Peak District was amazing, as indeed all the ones I have participated in have been. To get close views of Ring Ouzel and other moorland birds in the company of such an expert leader was a privilege. Naturetrek's positive response to the pandemic by setting up these days needs to be applauded. They have been flexible, honest and trustworthy throughout this difficult time. I highly recommend them.
D.L. West Midlands, Jun 21 -
It was an excellent day of bird watching. Despite the weather we saw an amazing variety of birds including the 'Ring Ouzel'. The Ring Ouzel was an especial delight as I have tried for 30 years to see this bird. Matthew spotted one before we had even left the car park. Matthew was knowledgeable not only about the birds but also about the environment and moorland terrain. This was very helpful as it enabled us to better understand the links between land management and the impact various approaches had on wildlife and bird numbers in particular.
S.B. Derbyshire, May 21 -
Expertly led - with vast local knowledge and expertise. Ability to locate and share species present plus provide extensive background information about the environment we were in. I thought I knew the area pretty well but learnt and saw so much.
S.J. Derbyshire, May 21
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