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Trip Report - 2008The Field Trips Report for earlier years are still available. Potteric Carr Carr Vale Goyt Valley Four members made the trip to the Goyt valley in glorious, hot and sunny weather. The birds were vociferous but very tricky to see. Our experts helped us identify Pied Flycatcher, Common Sandpiper, Tree Pipit and Redstart from their calls. We did manage to see one or two Redstarts but missed seeing the others. The hoped-for Wood Warblers were absent - or very quiet! After a couple of hours we decided to head back to the car and try our luck at Swallow Moss - to see if the Black Grouse were still there. On our way to the car we had a probable Peregrine, possibly two. We recorded 29 species in the valley. We spent an hour or so over lunch at Swallow Moss where we discovered that the Black Grouse have been missing for several years. We heard that Hobby and Grasshopper Warbler were quite active, but found neither. There were, however, lots of Redpolls about and a very loud Whitethroat and had a great view of another Peregrine. We returned to the valley via Hartington and Long Dale, where we had excellent views of a Little Owl from the car. Whisby Pits Rather cool but at least dry weather was enjoyed by 7 members. Disappointingly, only a couple of members caught snatches of Nightingale song - evidently, this was because they had paired up early and the males had fallen silent. Plenty of other warblers were present including a magnificent Garden Warbler and several singing Lesser Whitethroats, as well as Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. A pair of Little Ringed Plovers had a nest and a lone Greenshank was actively feeding. All in all, about 57 species were seen or heard. Some great views of a Four-spotted Chaser and other dragonflies, as well as butterflies also made the day very enjoyable.
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