Good night

Evening at Redmires Reservoir

Im Westen nichts Neues

Grazing sheep at Burbage Moor, Peak District

Higger Tor

Today’s images are from the same evening as the yesterday's post. The light was changing very rapidly. To demonstrate how rapidly I've included all images. The series below spans roughly 1 minute! This shows how strong the wind was. Some of the images are only 2,3 seconds apart.
The view is from the top of Higger Tor in Peak Districkt looking towards river Derwent Valley

Stanage Edge

Mam Tor

Mam Tor which means 'mother hill' is a prominent peak above Castleton. East face of the hill is scarred by a huge landslide that gave life to many smaller hills below, hence the name. On top Mam Tor was an iron age fort of which a massive ditch/rampart and burial mounds are still visible. A great place to watch sunset, so it must have been 3 000 years ago.

Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall is a beautifully preserved medieval fortified mansion located in Peak District. Because it has survived intact wars, fires and other misfortunes and also that it was not used for 200 years, the hall is a delight to visit. Almost all furniture is original so had there not been labels 'do not sit/touch' I would hug the tables and touch the wood panelling to feel the past generations of inhabitants - it's amazing to see the craftsmanship of old overlaid with centuries of wear.

 

 

Birds of Dark Peak

The bird pictured above is Red Grouse. We heard them first. I took my kids to climb Stanage Edge from Upper Burbage before the snow came. We kept hearing those croaking sounds and I really thought they were made by frogs! It is nesting season and the male grouse  has really bright red spots on both sides of the head. While its colour blends exceptionally well with dry heather the eyebrows really stand out. From time to time they burst into a short flight and when one did quite close to us we knew then these were no frogs, but birds we have never seen or heard before.

This gentleman was dueling another gentleman, 5m from the road. This is a car window shot! Luckily they did not escape and my camera with the telephoto lens on was lying next to my seat, switched on (I always keep it on) and without the lens cap. Wikipedia says the Common Pheasant is of Asian origin and was introduced worlwide as a game bird.