BIG BIRDS. (09/04/13)

Today a friend of mine, the dogs, and I went to Duncombe Park. They have a brand new Bird Of Prey Centre. It’s only been open a couple of weeks but it is a fantastic place. I managed to get in free thanks to the manager but next week I have to come back here so will pay and go again. I have never seen so many birds all in one place…..well I have but they were budgerigars. These are the most birds of prey I  have seen. I used to think it was a bit cruel keeping such wonderful birds in aviaries. The cages here are massive and heated for the birds that need heating. The flying demonstration was short and sweet but great to watch. The first on was a Spectacled Owl. I didn’t get any good pictures as it is well used to flying displays and spends it’s time buzzing the spectators. I mean buzzing I had to duck and could still feel the draught from it.

  Duncombe House. I didn’t go in as it isn’t dog friendly and they had already been in the Jeep for ages whilst I looked at the birds. This is a big panorama and will enlarge with a click.

Back to the birds.

      These are Owls…..I forgot my pencil and paper so have forgotten what sort of Owls they are. They are sleepy Owls. They have this fine black netting in front of the aviaries which is great for pictures shot at large apertures and manually focussed. The stuff does collect feathers so a paint brush as well as pencil and paper will be included in the bag for my next visit.

       I think this is a Buzzard. It is twice the size of our Buzzards and a real beauty. I have forgotten what he called it.

      It was the star of the show for me. I could have watched it gliding and soaring for hours. It’s very tame and likes a hug and a bit of a stroke.

        This is a Harris Hawk…..I hope.

        A rather blurry image of the Spectacled Owl. They have a couple of immature ones as well.

A dull cold but fantastic day out. I love getting close to these magnificent creatures.

Tomorrow I’m going to Darlington to get more van work done. Then I’m back here to snap a few classic cars. After that it is the long slog north into the wilds of Scotland.

I’ll post when I can. I think there are still about a hundred more from today. I succumbed after five minutes and burst shot the flying ones. Then I went back round the cages and burst shot them as well……Forgot to turn it off and my finger isn’t as quick as it used to be.

Have fun.