Jane Turner
Well-known member
I took the kids to Beeston Castle today. The castle is situated atop a 500ft high rock "plug" that rises out of the Cheshire plain. The woodland on the way up the the castle was filled with singing warblers, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps though as yet no Wood Warblers, Redstarts or Pied Flycatchers. When we got to the top the view was spectacular.... the Cathedrals in Liverpool were visible to the NW, the Clwydian range with Snowdonia behind to the West, while to the East the Pennines were on show.
As the only natural high rise location for miles in any direction, the cliff is something of an attraction to cliff nesting birds. We didn't actually see the breeding Peregrines (the first pair to return to Cheshire after the crash bred at Beeston) but the 50 or so Jackdaws were periodically out-called by the resident Ravens.
As we looked out towards Wales, both adult birds flew past close enough to see the contour feathers wafting up on their backs, then as though to order, both bird pulled a "victory roll". Holly, my 7 year old asked why they did that.. and my best answer was... because they can!
As the only natural high rise location for miles in any direction, the cliff is something of an attraction to cliff nesting birds. We didn't actually see the breeding Peregrines (the first pair to return to Cheshire after the crash bred at Beeston) but the 50 or so Jackdaws were periodically out-called by the resident Ravens.
As we looked out towards Wales, both adult birds flew past close enough to see the contour feathers wafting up on their backs, then as though to order, both bird pulled a "victory roll". Holly, my 7 year old asked why they did that.. and my best answer was... because they can!
