Dob Park and Snowden Crags
Specialities |
| Pied Flycatcher |
| Wood Warbler |
| Redstart |
| Lesser Spotted Woodpecker |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
| Green Woodpecker |
| Lesser Whitethroat |
| Curlew |
| Woodcock |
| Stonechat |
| Whinchat |
| Spotted Flycatcher |
| Snipe |
Dob Park Wood SE189505
This is the wood on the valley side to the south-west of the river roughly halfway between Lindley Wood and Swinsty Reservoirs.
This is an ancient wood which is good for all the woodland species including Tawny Owl and Great Spotted Woodpecker. In the past Nuthatch and Wood Warbler were relatively common here but sadly they must be considered rarities at the present time. In spring/summer the wood is full of song from both resident and migratory species including Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Mistle and Song Thrush.
Snowden Crags SE175514
This site is on the opposite side of the valley directly west of Sword Point. The crags themselves are relatively minor outcrops surrounded by a sea of bracken with some heather. The main interest is in spring/summer when the Crags are home to several pairs of nesting Whinchat - there may also be Wheatear and other migrant species in spring. The main interest of the Snowden Carr Road (which passes the Crags and heads east and south) is the splendid view to the east and north and the possibility of nesting Tree Pipit and passage migrants such as Stonechat, Merlin, Hen Harrier which have all been seen albeit rarely.
Notable
Sightings 2003 |
| Grey Heron - 10 nesting pairs. |
| 27th August 2003 A Marsh Harrier. |
Notable
Sightings 2004 |
| 27th March 2004 There were nine singing Chiffchaff between Lindley Wood Reservoir and Swinsty Reservoir, and, by 12th April, 12 were singing between Lindley Wood and Dob Park Bridge. |
| 2nd May 2004 Dob Park A singing male Lesser Whitethroat. |
| Summer 2004 Dob Park had only five Grey Heron nests, with 16 young counted: half last year’s nest count. |
| Summer 2004 Only one pair of Wood Warblers bred this year. The final record was at Dob Park on the 30th June, thus this species was only with us for two months of the year. |
| Summer 2004 Four Pied Flycatcher nests produced nine young birds and at Low Snowden five nests produced a total of seven young. |
Notable
Sightings 2005 |
| 12th April 2005 Pied Flycatcher at Dob Park Bridge, one of the earliest dates on record |
| 8th April 2005 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Dob Park |
| 8th April 2005 Redstart at Dob Park |
| 6th June 2005 The last resident Wood Warbler was noted. The only confirmed breeding came from Dob Park Wood, where there were two pairs. |
| Summer 2005 54 Pied Flycatchers ringed from eight nests. |
| Summer 2005 62 Blue Tits ringed from nine nests. |
| Summer 2005 62 Great Tits ringed from ten nests. |