Birdsong Walks with Simon

19/01/2025

A curious Collared Dove by the last sun of the day in Monyash. This Dove's song often features on the Birdsong Walk, similar to the Wood Pigeon, but with a rhythm all of its own.

21/10/2024

Freeze! I counted 14 different species of birds around our garden feeders today in the space of a few minutes...15 with the addition of a Sparrowhawk! All other birds fled for their lives, but the Nuthatch, photographed, adopted a different strategy: Freeze. Normally an incredibly active bird, diving in for a rapid feed and away again in seconds, never still for a moment, but this chappie held this pose for a good 3 minutes, without twitching a feather. Escaped the hawk's attention too.

29/07/2024

Fere Mere is our first official 'stop' on the Birdsong Walk and not for the first time this season it has yielded a surprise: Yesterday morning, a Little Egret, hunting in the shallows. AFAIK this is a first for our Monyash mere.

24/07/2024

Special Wildflower and Butterfly Walk (with some birds, for sure): This Sunday (28th). 9am from the green, Monyash. Two hours over fairly easy terrain. Book ahead by texting me: 07930 266218 and I'll see you there! Weather looking really good...(Pictured in my photo, a Small Tortoiseshell on Field Scabious, the hay meadows, Lathkill.)

21/06/2024

Flower of the Walk, this week, has to be Mouse-ear Hawkweed; the hairy leaves are a little like the ears of mice, but it's the lovely, lemony-yellow of the flower that really stands out in the limestone grassland of the dales. Next walk is Sunday, 9am from the green in Monyash, with weather looking good, then Wednesday. To book a place, text or WhatsApp me: 07930 266218

17/06/2024

Bird of the week: Spotted Flycatcher. The UK population of these little beauties has reduced by 92% since the late 1960's and they are on 'The Red List' for conservation. Happy to report, then, that our Birdsong Walk gives you at least two chances of meeting with them, in the dales and in the heart of the village. They are almost slient, so not much of song, but the way in which they dart up to catch an insect is music in motion. Next walk is Wednesday, 9am from the green, Monyash; to book your place contact me on 07930 266218.

08/06/2024

With thanks to Jeremy, who joined last Sunday's Birdsongwalk, this is one of our Monyash Jackdaws (I'm going to have to name him Jeremy Jackdaw, aren't I) showing genetic variation in action - and, who knows, evolution? He's grown a longer than normal tip to his bill. The village Jackdaws are real characters and always feature on the walk, especially around the churchyard.

06/06/2024

The Summer Orchids are starting to bloom on our Birdsongwalk... These Common Spotted, along with other kinds, start to upstage the birds a little. Next walk is Sunday, 9am from the Green in Monyash. Why not join us? Book ahead on 07930 266218

31/05/2024

As we move in June on our Sunday walk, (9am from the Green, Monyash) the Buttercups have taken over from the Dandelions for the main flower show, along with smudges of Cow Parsley; lots of other Summer flowers, including Orchids beginning to appear too, while the star singer of the week is the Garden Warbler (rare in gardens!) with its song compared to a tumbling mountain brook. Book ahead by texting me: 07930 266218 and I'll see you there! Weather looking really good...

21/05/2024

Now on Tripadvisor, number one out of TWO things to do in Monyash! But SEVEN five start reviews is not bad...

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

10/05/2024

Butterfly of the week: The Orange Tip. The walk before last we found three males newly emerged and flexing wings on Water Avens (a typical plant of Lathkill) This one is on Honesty. A good number are now flitting about the dale, males with the orange tips, females without, but both with a lovely green mottling on the underside of the wing. Next walk on Sunday 12th, 9am from the green, Monyash. Great weather forecast! Places free, but book ahead: 07930 266218.

07/05/2024

Absolutely nothing to look at...but what a gorgeous song! The Garden Warbler, now singing away, not in gardens (unless they have turned into jungle!) but thicketty woods, such as we have in Monyash. Much as with the Nightingale, the dullest looking birds that like to hide away have the best songs. (And because of this they are hard to photograph singing, so not my best bird shot!) Next walk is tomorrow, Weds 8th, then Sunday 12th and there will be a high chance of hearing these. Weather looking good. 9am from the green. Book ahead: 07930 266218

04/05/2024

The Whitethroats are back and singing. Meet one on a walk in the next few days, (absolutely no knowledge or special kit needed): An Evening Chorus Special, this evening, (Sat) at 6:30, Sunday and Wednesday mornings, as usual at 9am, from the green, Monyash. www.corble.co.uk for full details and photos, or book your place by texting me 07930 266218 (and I can answer any question you may have).

02/05/2024

Right now, the birdsongwalk is as much about the Dandelions. I don't know anywhere else that has such an abundance...Next walks on Sunday and Wednesday, 9am, with the weather looking as good as this from today. Contact me: 07930 266218

27/04/2024

Bird of the week: Lesser Redpoll, still visiting our garden feeder (pictured here in our apple tree) but also turned up at the campsite yesterday, on the edge of the village, the campsite which is in effect a suberb, mixed, open woodland and which marks 'the beginning of the end' on our birdsong walk. A tiny finch, easily overlooked and not breeding locally (or is it?). The fact that they are still visiting the garden feeders shows how cold this Spring has turned out, after a promising start. Redpolls are the last in our trio of 'March Finches' (my term) - which frequently continue into April - after the Brambling and Siskin, featured in earlier posts, but it is nearly May!

23/04/2024

The weather for tomorrow's Birdsong Walk is looking perfect, 'Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze'. 9am from the Green, Monyash and it's not too late to book. The star performer is bound to be the Willow Warbler, (pictured in our little dale) arrived in numbers now and in fine voice today. With a gorgeous, cascading song, it's THE sound of Middle Spring and one of my faves.

22/04/2024