Bearded Vulture/Lammergeier in the Peak District. Sunday 19th July 2020
The appearance of a vulture in this country is a strange occurrence at the best of times and with it came the tag presumed wild bred from reintroduced but not self-sustaining population in the Alps no great rush to see it set in. Now as pictures and video of the bird emerged the chance to see such a magnificent creature got us all thinking about a trip to see it!
With Chris B and son Isaac, myself, Steve B and Bob K aboard, we set off from Newhey at 10-30am, news that the bird was still present and going into its 9th day of residence, our hopes were high. On such a sunny Sunday afternoon lots of traffic, cyclists and walkers made our journey to Cutthroat Bridge on the A57 Snake Road car park very interesting. Our intention to have a look for the Bearded Vulture/Lammergeier for 20 minutes just up a very rocky path, where the bird had been watched sat on rocks one hour before we arrived, revealed nothing. We carried on and chose not to go for the shorter track up to Back Tor having already completed a good mile. Going was hard but what a lovely view from all angles. On the uphill slog we passed: - Whinstone Lee Tor, Wheel Stones, White Tor, Salt Cellar, Dovestone Tor, Cakes of Bread and finally arriving at Back Tor after around 2 hours walking. At one point on the way up we saw a very large bird of prey over Howden Moors that we identified as the Bearded Vulture. At Back Tor lots of bird watchers and general walkers seemed to be searching the skies or just enjoying the sunshine and the superb views from this vantage point. After numerous warnings about not encroaching too close to the birds roosting place, it defies logic that one man was sat over the rocky escarpment and another family within 200 yards, preventing the bird to land!! After a nice rest the shout went up that the bird was flying around over Abbey Bank and Howden Moor area, it was quite distant, but great to watch. About 20 minutes later the vulture re-appeared this time to the south beyond Derwent Moors giving better yet still distant views, it was good to follow the bird as it occasionally banked over and more detail could be seen. On the return journey down we saw: - Kestrel, Buzzard, Raven, Meadow Pipit and Stonechat. By now our legs and feet had gone into automatic mode as we finally made it back to the car park after a two hour decent. Was it worth it, well of course it was!
Hi Dave, I was at the Abbey Brook roost site watchpoint from first light but the bird had roosted elsewhere. After several hrs waiting , distant views over Howden Moor heading away northwards was the only sighting for me during a 9 hr wait. I left at 3pm gutted and after getting home and resting to hear the ping of my Birdguides app alerting me the bird gad come into roost again at 7pm.. B******.
On the subject of idiots too close, I have some shots of the prats sat above and opposite the site despite the National Trust placing signs asking folk not to sit near the rock face all around the area. The single idiot chap in blue was even sat besides one sign with his face covered to hide his identity!!
No surprise its found other roost sites now!
On the bird front, other stuff seen were several merlin (or repeat sightings), female Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 2 Red Kites, 5+ Raven, several Golden Plover, Buzzard etc. What a stunning piece of moorland with spectacular views.
Return to the Peak District (Lammergeier 2) 22nd July 2020
After the slog up to Back Tor in the Peak District last Sunday all my body wanted to do was rest and return to status quo but, as one of our number Kevin C, had not been able to enjoy Sunday`s stroll another trip was organised. Now John R, of GM Birders fame, had found what looked like an easier vantage point above Cutthroat Bridge car park. As the Bearded Vulture (still of unknown origin) seemed to like hanging around this area in the early mornings a trip was decided upon. Also Mark R of GM and avid Rochdale football supporter fame, was also making the trip. Rising at 5am and being ready to set off from Castleton at 6am on a nice morning has its advantages. Kevin drove through the deserted bottle necks around the Glossop area and we soon reached the parking area. Mark R was already there as we climbed up the path to join him at around 7-10am. We had a good chat about all things wrong with the world we live in and then, at around 8-50am, a signal from other birders in the area alerted us to the vultures presence. For the next 35 minutes the vulture mesmerised us all with its flying ability as it searched the area for food. At one point it flew very low over a small flock of sheep, one of which jumped in the air as the vulture cast a huge shadow over the terrified animal. It really was a very special moment for us all to be enjoying this truly amazing wildlife spectacle, the time flew by and the bird drifted off north to check out other parts of this splendid national park. We headed down to our cars for some well-earned refreshment.
After chatting to a couple of local birders we decided to visit Padley Gorge, only 7 miles away, to try to catch up with some woodland birds. We passed through some lovely villages on the way but the sky began to darken and a little rain began to fall as we entered the woodland. After spending an hour we managed to see: - 4 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 4 Blue Tit and lots of Wrens but nothing else. We returned to the car a little disappointed and agreed that the next time we visit will have to be in spring. We headed off and decided to park up on Mortimer Road (about 3/4mile along the A57 towards Sheffield) and have another look around to see if the vulture was flying around, it wasnt, and after about half an hour we headed for home as the early start was beginning to show!
As you know I went back the day before, on the Tues 21st July, after hearing the bird had gone to roost on the Howden Moor crag on the Monday evening. So after arriving super early at the Mortimer Rd parking area, 3.10am to be precise!!, the long 6km slog up to the site ensued in the pitch black dark to ensure arriving at the roost area at first light. Plan worked a treat till I arrived at the watchpoint, being the first one there, and no bird was to be seen. I knew it hadn't left before I got there as they won't go out in the dark so it must have left last night. Gutted, Again. I could have cried after all that effort.. A few other people started to arrive shortly afterwards from the multiple routes you can attack it from and the bitter truth soon hit them as they arrived and before long 10-15 people were sat there glum faced and to cap if all off it started rain a heavy shower. No shelter, no coat, great. After it fined up and the sun came out so did 50 million midges which eventually drove all but 5 of us away and back on homeward journeys.. Then one of the chaps sat with us said he'd been sat there the night before and the bird had again been flushed by some prats too close and it left before dark... but no-one present thought it worth putting the info on the bird news services.. That went down very well... NOT!
Anyway after a couple of short naps and a bit of lunch thoughts of leaving the site became stronger. Possibly go to Cutthroat Bridge lay-by, walk up onto Black Tor ? Neither seemed like a good idea after the walk back to the car was going to be a long one. Then a shout went out as a large bird was cruising around Lost Lad. Massive, that's it, but 2+ miles away and it disappeared off towards the south.. More gloom.
Then 10 mins later it was up again circling Black Tor a couple of times before setting off straight for us. We all just knew it was going to come straight to us and it did taking 3-4 minutes, getting bigger and bigger until it arrived right in front of us as close as 30 Mts away at one point giving a fast but mind blowing close fly past before it flew down the valley and away in a northerly direction. I was so excited I almost forgot to take any pics but managed 3-4 pretty decent ones despite shaky hands.. Ive seen them on a good few occasions down in the south of France on Andy Hargreaves doorstep but never so close. Its size was just huge. Not exactly the most pretty of birds but to see one so well pretty local was an experience I won't forget in a hurry.
Cheers Dave. A brilliant experience really. If anybody is thinking of going but hasnt yet, go as its worth the hr drive and a walk in some beautiful scenery.
