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MEETINGS: Once or twice a month on various days to minimise recurrent clashes with members' other commitments.

We are always happy to welcome new members. None of us claim to be experts but try to puzzle our way to the names of the organisms we find. If you are interested in joining us or want more information please contact us.

We usually meet at the Co-op car park, Church Road, New Mills at 10 am. The number on walks is limited only by having enough seats in cars. Attendance varies with members’ diaries, inclinations and the weather (we are sensible people, not masochists).

Come and join us. There's no limit to the number on the mailing list.
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NEXT VISIT

RSPB Old Moor
Wednesday 24 September

For our next visit, we are going to RSPB Old Moor in the Dearne Valley, which is one of our favourite haunts. A former coal-mining site, it is landscaped to provide a mosaic of habitats including large areas of wetlands, Old Moor still holds the record of 51, for number of bird species seen on a single visit. Last year we notched up 42 species including seven spoonbills and a curlew sandpiper. It also has an abundance of wildflowers attracting butterflies and other insects. A late September trip should allow us to see passage migrants and winter visitors to the reserve as well as some late flying butterflies and the resident bird species, though fewer flowers.

If you are a member  bring your RSPB membership card as there is an entry charge.

Meet at New Mills Coop car park, 10.00 am to car share.

Let us know if you are coming on the trip.

2025 Meetings
Wednesday 12 February
New Mills - River Goyt and Peak Forest Canal
(morning walk)
Tuesday 25 February
Carsington Water
Thursday 13 March
Reddish Vale
Sunday 30 March
Parkgate and Burton Mere RSPB
Monday 14 April
Upper Goyt
Friday 02 May
Coombes Valley RSPB
Thursday 22 May
Longshaw area
Tuesday 10 June
Hartington Meadows
Monday 30 June
Lathkill Dale     Roman Lakes
Nightjar walk  (evening walk - day depending on forecast)
Monday 21 July
Tideslow Rake Jackson's Brickworks LNR and the
Middlewood way
Friday 15 August
Tittesworth Water
Wednesday 3 September
Millers Dale
Wednesday 24 September
RSPB Old Moor

Millers Dale

We had a great day in Miller's Dale despite getting drenched during a short but heavy shower while we sat eating our lunch. Thank goodness for modern wet weather gear. We found the Grass of Parnassus and had good views of more Dippers than I've ever previously seen on that stretch of the Wye with lots of martins flying high overhead.

Coombes Valley

photos taken by Fred Pickering

<click in images to enlarge>

We had a good day at RSPB Coombes Valley. Lots of birds singing but proving difficult to see though we did manage a pied flycatcher and a garden warbler. Lots of wildflowers though to compensate.

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Candy Flower

1) Candy Flower - as far as I know it's the first time we've identified this in Birds & Botany and Pat C who keeps the flower record agreed.

2) This is Common or Field Horsetail, a non-vascular plant. This is the most common variety that is very invasive if it gets in your garden but apparently there are at least another four species found in the UK.

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Field Horsetail

For previous years outings
click on dates below

2024

2023

2020-2022

2019

2018

2017

September 2025