NIDD GORGE

A lovely walk for enjoying two colourful birds – and more!

The gorge has a history dating back to the Iron Age, including old industry with water mills and extraction of trees, but it is the recent cult book called Common Ground by Rob Cowen, mentioned on BBC’S Winterwatch, that makes the area better known today. Rob escaped the London scene for a new life living at Starbeck. Wildlife was his real escapism and he often slept under the stars in these woodlands. The gorge has always been a favourite walking area for locals but the added attractions are two birds which give the area a real

colour! Red Kites have moved here from the reintroduction at Harwood near Leeds, and the exotic Mandarin loves the dark shady sides of the river. The area is a favourite of mine as I worked in the local forest on these banks as one of my first jobs leaving school at 16. The woodland is home to more than 80 species of birds. The river gives you plenty of Dippers and Grey Wagtails along with the Goosander (new in the 1970s as a breeding bird!). Marsh Tits are the ones to look for, along with Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch. A nearby bird observatory at Knaresborough had a good record of migration of many species passing over this area with records of waders, like Bar-tailed Godwit, and even ducks, like Common Scoter, but you are more likely to find Common Sandpiper and Woodcock as waders, with Mallard the main dabbling duck. Other birds of prey include Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and even Goshawk. Look out for Hobby in summer from the viaduct as this spot doubles up as a raptor watchpoint. Spring gives a good show of the common woodland flora.