A Retrospective on my Lockdown walks. Part 3

Wirksworth-Alderwasley-Shining Cliff Woods-Ashleyhay-Wirksworth, 6th April 2020

An extraordinarily, or so it felt, long one, walking from Wirksworth up the hill, amid intermittent showers and occasionally glorious sunshine, through woods carpeted with white Anemone, and fields full of Celandines, by babbling brooks to the sound of Chiffchaffs and Robins singing, to Alderwasley. There were a good selection of early butterflies on the wing, including Commas, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, species which overwinter as adults and appear on the first warm days to take advantage of the early nectar sources.

Marsh Marigold, probably a garden escape, beside a babbling brook. 

Comma Butterfly, a harbinger of summer.

In Alderwasley I crossed the bridge over the pond in the school grounds, and continued across a patch of Heathland and past a war memorial, into Shining Cliff Woods, thought locally to be haunted, along stream bed paths, to obscured views of the River Derwent and the corner of a quiet industrial estate, before striking back uphill, past the small reservoir and information boards about the wood's history, its historical ownership by the radical Grith Fyrd Pioneers, an organisation dedicated to survivalism, off grid living, and challenging urbanism and industrial labour, and later by the Youth Hostels Association.

Wood Anemone flowers. 

 

Bird-wise, Shining Cliff Woods was surprisingly quiet, with little birdsong, but the adjoining plantation was alive with Goldfinches, busy in the Larches, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A pair of Swallows near a small farm and a sign for Belper were my first of the summer, wheeling about in a clear blue sky. Moments later, a huge flock of fieldfares took flight, massed ahead of their long trip North. The changing of the Seasons. A Mistle Thrush sang his lazy blackbird song. 

A long walk from home. 

I picked my way back toward Wirksworth via lanes and rural footpaths. arriving in Prathall Lane, itself appearing an experiment in rural living, with Showman's Caravans and the curious shapes of the living tree furniture chair farm. Prathall Lane was long, but Pheasants, Song Thrush, and a singing Willow Warbler welcomed me back into Wirksworth. 

What a long and rewarding stroll. 

Birds Seen: Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Moorhen, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Swallow*, Long Tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler*, Goldcrest, Wren, Treecreeper, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch. 

Bird*=my first sighting of 2020.