How to get there
Overview
The Upper Derwent Valley (site
map) is situated in the Peak District National Park, in the west of the SBSG
recording area. Howden, Derwent and Ladybower Reservoirs dominate the Valley.
Created between 1901 and 1945 to supply the drinking water needs of Sheffield,
Nottingham, Derby and the East Midlands, they form the largest area of open
water in the National Park. The valley sides are heavily forested. Large areas
of conifers were planted when the reservoirs were built, although some original
oak woodland does remain. Heather and grass moorland dominate the slopes and
edges above such Derwent Edge and Howden Edge to the east and Alport Castles,
Bleaklow and Barrow Stones to the West.
Facilities
There are several free car parks on the way up the Valley, but the main
facilities (and pay and display parking) are at Fairholmes which has an
information centre, toilets, cycle hire and a food kiosk (SK17268932). The road
runs all the way to the top of Howden Reservoir but, due to a lack of parking,
is closed from Fairholmes to all but disabled badge holders on Sundays, summer
Saturdays (Easter to mid-October) and Bank Holidays. On these days a bus service
runs every half hour to the top of the Valley at King’s Tree, allowing easy
access to the more remote areas. Likely speciesThere is far too much to cover in one day and most birders tend to concentrate on the Valley itself, taking in the woodland and reservoirs rather than the moorland. February to April is the busiest time for visiting birders when birds of prey, notably displaying Goshawk, take centre stage. Birds can be encountered anywhere in the Valley but birders tend to concentrate at Stony Bank Corner (incorrectly called Windy Corner) just after Howden Dam (SK16879275). Early mornings are best and can produce multiple sightings of the resident species: Goshawk, Peregrine, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Raven. Other possibilities include Merlin and Hen Harrier – two pairs of this much persecuted species bred in the Valley in 2006 for the first time in over a century. Rough-legged Buzzard is recorded in some winters while Osprey is becoming a more frequent occurrence on passage and Red Kite is also becoming a more frequent visitor with sightings of wandering birds from the reintroduced populations.
The reservoirs are acidic and so do not hold a wide variety of wildfowl. Mallard are omnipresent, especially around Fairholmes and Canada Geese can reach plague proportions in the summer. The best place for wildfowl in winter is the very western end of Ladybower where Goldeneye, Pochard and Tufted Duck can be encountered. There are a few pairs of Red-Breasted Merganser present each year and Common Sandpipers breed in large numbers around the reservoir edges. Though often almost birdless the reservoirs do turn up divers and grebes in hard weather and are therefore always worth a check.
A heronry at Win Hill usually has about six breeding pairs and Cormorant numbers peak at around 12 birds (usually roosting on the towers of Howden Dam). The streams and rivers are typical of upland areas holding both Dipper and Grey Wagtail.
The woodlands contain all the usual species that you would expect; the feeding station at Fairholmes is a good place to start. Nuthatch is now common and Redstart, Tree Pipit, Goldcrest, Wood Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Woodcock are all regular. The Valley is one of the best sites in the Sheffield area for Spotted Flycatcher and the boxing of key sites should lead to an increase in Pied Flycatcher numbers. The conifer plantations hold a large breeding population of Siskin, though numbers often peak in early spring when passage flocks swell numbers and large flocks may be encountered throughout the Valley. Areas of larch and beech can also hold large wintering flocks of Brambling, with up to 1,000 birds present in some years. The area vies with Strines as the best site in the region to find Crossbills, especially during the winter months, and both Parrot Crossbill and Two-barred Crossbill have been recorded.
The moorlands are home to Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Stonechat, Whinchat, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Raven, Red Grouse, Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe and Golden Plover, while Dunlin is becoming increasingly difficult to find and the days of Twite breeding in the area are long since past. NestwatchThe Peak Nestwatch Initiative aims to protect and publicise birds of prey within the Upper Derwent Valley. Though several species of raptor breed within the Valley there are regular unexplained breeding failures and incidents of disturbance, especially in relation to Goshawk and Peregrine sites. We would urge you to be vigilant when birding in the Valley and report any incidents of suspicious behaviour to the police, tel: 0845 123 33 33 quoting Project Moorwatch, or to the RSPB, tel: 01767 680551. Alternatively, the Peak Nestwatch coordinator is Richard Dale, feel free to get in touch regarding any aspect of raptor conservation and protection in the Upper Derwent Valley; tel: 07824 432134, email: richarddale9@hotmail.com.
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