tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post7517331749561521200..comments2024-03-28T08:30:44.045+00:00Comments on Pegler Birding: North Pennines - a Grouse or Two! - 13th to 16th October, 2015Richard Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-79947424149580896452015-10-21T20:33:27.060+01:002015-10-21T20:33:27.060+01:00As we were leaving to come home, I mentioned to Li...As we were leaving to come home, I mentioned to Lindsay that next time we should visit Eggleston Hall Gardens. Now that you've recommended it, it will probably happen!! I think I preferred Low Force to High Force, and the refurbished visitor centre at Bowlees is excellent and the people there are extremely helpful. Your other recommendations will also be high on the list of things to do.<br /><br />The Bowes Museum Swan operates at 2 p.m.and we were away before then. We did see a video display of it in action, but only saw it static 'in the flesh'. I was totally bowled over by the paintings by Joséphine Bowes. I found her style, particularly her use of light to be remarkable and very distinctive to the extent that, with the exception of a couple of 'uncertainties', I was able to pick out each one of her many paintings on display, and would rather have had one of hers than any other on display there.<br /><br />We did see Buzzard (one) and several Kestrel while we were up there - but no owls!<br /><br />Yep, we do like our ice cream - Lindsay falls under my bad influence!!<br /><br />With my best wishes to you both - - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-46311975253803888222015-10-21T20:19:52.534+01:002015-10-21T20:19:52.534+01:00We had a great time, John, even though it was a ve...We had a great time, John, even though it was a very short break. Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement.<br /><br />My best wishes to you both - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-64359289251273728352015-10-21T20:18:26.542+01:002015-10-21T20:18:26.542+01:00Thank you for your very kind words, Roos. I believ...Thank you for your very kind words, Roos. I believe that we've only just scratched the surface of this area, and I look forward to returning. It's an area which I believe will be interesting in all seasons.<br /><br />My best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-71723594289563673562015-10-21T20:15:37.373+01:002015-10-21T20:15:37.373+01:00Thank you for your kind words, David. Next time yo...Thank you for your kind words, David. Next time you visit I'll try and get you some closer views. I'll also be taking Miriam to The Bowes Museum if we're in that area. Just south of where we were staying is a 'craft route' which might take a couple of days to do justice to!!!<br /><br />My very best wishes to you both - - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-29453759333249761362015-10-21T15:51:18.477+01:002015-10-21T15:51:18.477+01:00Hi Richard, County Durham! I have been visiting C...Hi Richard, County Durham! I have been visiting County Durham for the past twenty years, Malcolm's father lives in Ferryhill and we usually go to see him a least twice a year, staying a week each time. It is a beautiful area and not crowded like here in the South. Some of our favourite places to visit are Eggleston Hall Gardens, High Force, Cow Green Reservoir, Durham Cathedral. Did you see the silver swan at Bowes museum, we saw it in action, it is amazing how acurate they have got the swan's movement. Lovely pictures of your grouses. It is a pity that small minded people only view these birds to be shot at with a gun. One of the things we have noticed about County Durham, no birds of prey, we have never seen a buzzard not even a kestrel. We did see a Long Eared owl and a Little Owl, but that is all we have ever seen. I am glad that you are feeling better and that you both had a lovely time. You and Lindsay seem to be fans of ice-cream ;-) Linda Yarrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804368844243909168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-40854404560707964642015-10-20T15:51:00.337+01:002015-10-20T15:51:00.337+01:00Look's like you and Lindsay had a fantastic br...Look's like you and Lindsay had a fantastic break I always look forward to seeing your new adventures,and this post is fall of magical images,I'm blown away with your photography,love every shot.<br />Take care.<br />John.JRandSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13578266188930995611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-62091969600728909012015-10-20T13:46:11.118+01:002015-10-20T13:46:11.118+01:00Hello Richard, good to see you are back and enjoye...Hello Richard, good to see you are back and enjoyed your break. What a beautiful captures of the Black and Red Grouse. The Partrige is a most wonderful bird and the Brown Hare you captured so well. The capture of the waterfall is amazing. And great you managed to see te Dipper. All in all a real good impression of the wildlife and landscape.<br />Regards,<br />RoosRooshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02095611236289233818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-78897644902828891012015-10-20T13:18:05.132+01:002015-10-20T13:18:05.132+01:00Wonderful shots of the grouse here, Richard, espec...Wonderful shots of the grouse here, Richard, especially the Black Grouse which is certainly more elusive than the Red. I still have very fond memories of my lifer Black Grouse with you in Scotland although the views were certainly more distant. Great job!David M. Gascoigne,https://www.blogger.com/profile/17229638811027153569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-7908242762450895782015-10-20T10:09:07.610+01:002015-10-20T10:09:07.610+01:00Hi Adrian. It feels good to be back.
We obviously...Hi Adrian. It feels good to be back.<br /><br />We obviously went to High Force at the right time. We were only at the falls for about 10 minutes, but we had the place totally to ouselves. We probably only saw eight other people, but that was just on the path to and from the falls.<br /><br />We never got to spend any time in Barnard Castle, Adrian, but we intend to return to the area and, prompted by your recommendation, will be sure to visit and explore the town. I'm not sure what the significance is, but there were prominent signs say that, for safety reasons, the Aquaduct Walk was closed. <br /><br />Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-86627772289716788982015-10-20T10:00:04.876+01:002015-10-20T10:00:04.876+01:00It certainly was a most enjoyable get-away, Paul. ...It certainly was a most enjoyable get-away, Paul. For some reason, we seem to have settled into a daily routine of having an ice cream when on holiday, no matter where we go and what time of year it is. I must admit it does draw a few amused looks when we stroll down the street, cone in hand, when there's snow on the ground!<br /><br />Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-27711695575458141542015-10-20T09:24:32.029+01:002015-10-20T09:24:32.029+01:00Good to see you back and a great look round one of...Good to see you back and a great look round one of my favourite areas. <br />I tend to disregard High force as it is usually heaving with folk but Barnard castle is a very appealing town.ADRIANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07113961163396562781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-76349078177479106732015-10-20T08:47:15.890+01:002015-10-20T08:47:15.890+01:00It was obviously a much needed break Richard, it a...It was obviously a much needed break Richard, it appears from your writing that it did the job! Loving all the images but the male Black Grouse on the rock is excellent!! On another note, I think this post would also qualify for a gourmet blog, you both seem to be spending an awful lot of time enjoying the finer tastes that seem to be on offer, nice one!!!! Paul Riddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03745064452469646249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-88091117705406338772015-10-19T22:44:30.588+01:002015-10-19T22:44:30.588+01:00Thanks, Doug. You must have been writing you comme...Thanks, Doug. You must have been writing you comment on my blog exectly at the same time as I was writing my comment on yours!<br /><br />I hadn't realised just how pretty a bird the female Black Grouse is, I'd only ever had half-decent views of males before then.<br /><br />Lindsay and I had a good chuckle over that sign!<br /><br />Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-4976378602949187312015-10-19T22:39:26.767+01:002015-10-19T22:39:26.767+01:00Grouse aren't one of my favourite birds but th...Grouse aren't one of my favourite birds but the images have swayed. I really like the male and female Black Grouse on the rocks. And the Red Grouse look brilliant in the light. <br />One of my favourite images is the Red legs running along the wall. Quite comical. <br />So glad you caught up with the Dipper too. It took me a while to realise what somesome clever scamp had done to the "lick the flowers" sign lol. Douglas Mcfarlanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12267360351215643395noreply@blogger.com