RSPB Coombes Valley

We have just had a couple of days up in the Peak District staying in Buxton, but on the way up we thought we would give Coombes Valley a try, never having been before.

First impressions were good the volunteers were friendly and helpful, we had hoped that the resident Woodcock might already be active, but we were a bit to early in the year for that and the Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts that breed here hadn't arrived yet, never mind!

We set out with the aim to walk the whole reserve, not realising how steep the paths are in some places, but we made it round. The birds were pretty elusive, but the scenery was brilliant,

So very few bird photographs, but we did see;
Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Chaffinch, Pied and Grey Wagtail, Buzzard, Kestrel and our first Collared Dove of the year, plus all the usual suspects and two Canada Geese who had built a nest on the side of the pond in the middle of the woods!

A lovely but very tiring day, before our final 30 minute drive to our hotel in Buxton.