Friday 8 May 2015

Peregrines At The Derelict Groverake Lead & Fluorspar Mine, Rookhope, Weardale







A recent jaunt up north to Consett, Co. Durham visiting my Brother led to a couple of days walking alone around sections of the North Pennines while my Brother went about his work. One of which included the Groverake Mine on Rookhope Burn.  As patches of heather burned on the valley above me I clumped down the steep footpath that dissects  this derelict site - the remains of a small collection of stone buildings dotted around two tiers of level land beside a small stream in a deep trough cutting through the mossy, rocky ground, recording in it's banks the winter strength of this now docile trickle. In fact, when exploring, I found that the only crossing I could see for miles had already been washed away. leaving only a thin edge of path traversing the 4' diameter steel pipe purposefully positioned in the current.
What turned out to be the roof of the pump shed, housing the rusty carcass of a diesel pumping engine had collapsed in the centre leaving slate tiles piled around the machine and hanging precariously from the fragile rotten roof trusses.  
On the far side of the upper tier was the first of two mine shafts cutting into the hillside. Peering down the dark hole gradually descending into the valley wall to what I have now discovered was one of the last and most productive Fluorspar seams in the Pennines left me feeling uneasy, and so walked further down the rocky path to the head frame.        







Male Grouse strutting about making a right fuss

Meadow Pipit? 

Definitely a Meadow Pipit














Wheatear (m)
As I walked around the mine site with Skylarks singing above me and the sounds and odd glimpses of Grouse and Lapwing I was pleasantly surprised to see a pair of small raptors pop up from the roof of one of the derelict sheds. I quickly hid myself as best I could on the shadowed side of an adjacent building. As I watched I could see each of the birds taking turns to circle higher and higher before folding their wings back and diving fast towards the river and swooping low before climbing a little and landing on the steep grassy bank above on the opposite side from my position. 
Occasionally perching on the very top of the mine's one remaining head frame, before dropping to the lip of a small chimney cowling atop the same roof the pair appeared from behind earlier.
Here are the best shots I could get of the Peregrines with a 300mm zoom. I attempted to get shots of the dives but this, as I found very quickly takes a lot of skill. My results are mediocre at best! 
I also managed to see a number of birds completely new to me. I find searching and comparing photos until I've identified them completely immersive. As long as I get a reasonable photo, all goes well!    




Lapwing




Another Meadow Pipit?























#uk #wildlife #birds #birdsofprey #peregrines #peregrine #mine #lead #fluorspar #weardale #northpennines #pennines #north #thenorth #pauljacksonphotography #photography #photographer

Monday 27 April 2015

Fruitless Kingfisher Searching

Since last summer, I have been keeping an eye out when walking rivers for holes in vertical bank sections likely to be nesting sites of kingfishers. And having found a couple of locations with potential for nesting, I've made early starts and set myself up for a long wait on the banks.
On both occasions, 4 hour stints did not bring a single sighting. I'm thinking I may be a little early in the season to see much but the days were not a complete waste. I did get to watch two consecutive dawns in very peaceful surroundings. One a beautifully clear and bright rise and the other dull, grey and drizzly. 
After waiting patiently an the bank on each day I took a walk along a section of waterway snapping as I went. The barn owl flew over my head, across the river Stour and over to a fence post approximately 200 metres away.  with a 300mm telephoto at full zoom and filthy weather the shot isn't great, but a lovely sight. This is the third barn owl I've seen in seven days without even looking. Maybe that's the way to see kingfishers!


















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Monday 2 March 2015

Kestrels, Hawks & Owls with CJ Birds of Prey


A friend & I took a short jaunt southwest, to Westmill Farm near Ware, Hertfordshire for a bird of prey experience. A four hour session with a professional falconer giving us the opportunity to not only see beautiful winged creatures such as a Kestrel, a Harris Hawk, a Siberian Eagle Owl and an Asian Brown Wood Owl at close quarters but also to fly some of them short distances.
These types of things are dependent on weather conditions. Rain fell as we approached Stevenage so we prepared ourselves for a reduced programme and on our arrival we were indeed informed that the day would be spent not in the fields as we expected, but in a recently constructed shelter in the farm complex. This, although a little disappointing was better than not getting to handle these amazing creatures at all. We'd managed to get the experience at a reduced cost anyway so I think we still got good value for money. I would be interested to return in more favourable weather.

Firstly, we were told some facts about birds. Specifically, how a difference in a bird's weight as small as a couple of ounces either side of optimum can determine whether a bird will fly or not. Basically explained, it's a waste of energy for the bird to fly if it's already full of food. A bird will hunt if it needs to. If it doesn't, it won't. especially if its raining!

Bird #1: a male Kestrel called Tio (flown on a tether due to his inexperience in enclosed spaces) 
Bird #2: a male Harris Hawk named Bud.
Bird #3: a Siberian Eagle Owl (not flown)
Bird #4: an Asian Brown Wood Owl called Sakie (not flown but very vocal)










































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