Birding in Padley Gorge

A photography trip to Padley Gorge is an immersion into one of England’s most enchanting woodlands. Nestled in Derbyshire’s Peak District, this temperate rainforest is a haven for landscape photographers, offering a tapestry of moss-covered boulders, ancient oak and birch trees, and the ever-present soft gurgle of Burbage Brook cascading over stone. But it can be difficult going with its hilly, unprepared paths, steep gorge sides, boulders, rocks and ever-present tree roots.

On my return trip to Padley Gorge I intended to concentrate on birds, especially the Dippers. Our previous trip suggested a virtual ‘guarantee’ of seeing and photographing these distinctive birds, known for their bobbing movements and unique ability to dive and forage underwater. They often perch on rocks within fast-flowing streams, making Padley Gorge’s Burbage Brook cascades an ideal habitat.

Dipper by the Brook

Dipper

Dipper

While their presence is notable, capturing them requires patience and being at the right place at the right time. On our previous visit we located a nesting site and were lucky enough to see and photograph the bird(s) capturing food and returning to the nest on numerous occasions. However, we had set out for a ‘landscape shoot’ so none of us had the right lenses for capturing small birds at a respectful distance.

Grey Wagtail in Flight

Grey Wagtail with Lunch

Grey Wagtail

For optimal results, visit during spring when Dippers are most active. Positioning near quieter stream sections increases the likelihood of sightings. So I returned, again parking near the Station Café, and walking ‘up’ the gorge (the bottom/southern end of the gorge is called ‘Upper Padley’ for some reason). Intending to go straight to the nesting site, about half way up, I did not find it, so ended up walking to the top of the gorge itself, near to were an ice cream van always parks (B5621 road; Post Code S32 2HE; 53.315943040780695, -1.6140683847538224). I’d recommend parking here in future as access to the gorge is much easier under foot.

The Station Cafe

Robin

Also this ‘top end’ is much more open and flatter, making seeing and capturing birds much easier. I saw many other birds here including Robins (of course!), beautiful Grey Wagtails, a Kestrel and a sleepy Tawny Owl. But this area is busier than the central gorge area, so I moved back down after an hour or so.

Kestrel

Tawny Owl

When the sun went behind the clouds, as it often did through the morning, under the trees got quite dark. Whilst modern software can ‘clean’ noisy images (I was often at ISO 12,800) you cannot retain the inherent sharpness of modern sensors at low ISOs. The images are rather ‘soft’, thus not producing the ‘best quality’ photographs, but it facilitates capturing really enjoyable ones.

Padley Gorge is not just a location but an experience - a place where every turn offers a new frame and a chance to put a foot wrong; every moment a different mood. It’s a testament to nature’s artistry in combination with man’s historical hard working, and a must-visit for any photographer seeking nature’s inspiration. So I will be back.

Having experienced the ‘dry’ bacon batch at Grindleford Station Café on the previous visit, this time I brought my own butter. It made little difference… despite the 5 rashers of bacon, the bread was even drier and stale this time. Despite the ‘good’ on-line reviews, I cannot recommend it and won't be dining there again!.