The Bearded Vulture of Ladybower!
Discussion
Just wondering if any other people here have managed to see this rare visitor over the past week or 10 days?
It’s been attracting hundreds of birdwatchers to the area Just to the east of Derwent Valley in the Peak District. I’ve done a few runs out that way to see if I can see it but no luck yet. According to locals it is fairly spectacular and a friend of mine claimed it flew just about 20m over his head last week While he was out walking.
It’s difficult to miss by the looks of it, as (due to the actions of the local game keeping scumbags) you rarely see anything bigger In the skies than the thousands of grouse that inhabit the moors, so this beast is about 4-5 times the size of anything else that’s airborne around here.
This is the one, clearly not my photo but I believe this is the actual bird. Pretty impressive sight.
It’s been attracting hundreds of birdwatchers to the area Just to the east of Derwent Valley in the Peak District. I’ve done a few runs out that way to see if I can see it but no luck yet. According to locals it is fairly spectacular and a friend of mine claimed it flew just about 20m over his head last week While he was out walking.
It’s difficult to miss by the looks of it, as (due to the actions of the local game keeping scumbags) you rarely see anything bigger In the skies than the thousands of grouse that inhabit the moors, so this beast is about 4-5 times the size of anything else that’s airborne around here.
This is the one, clearly not my photo but I believe this is the actual bird. Pretty impressive sight.
It won't last long in that area, notorious for being one of the worst parts in the UK for raptor persecution.
I'm surprised none of the local gamekeepers who spend so much time on the moors and know the ground like the back of their hand have never been able to catch any of the evil scumbags that trap and poison so many birds of prey around there...
I'm surprised none of the local gamekeepers who spend so much time on the moors and know the ground like the back of their hand have never been able to catch any of the evil scumbags that trap and poison so many birds of prey around there...
mike74 said:
It won't last long in that area, notorious for being one of the worst parts in the UK for raptor persecution.
I'm surprised none of the local gamekeepers who spend so much time on the moors and know the ground like the back of their hand have never been able to catch any of the evil scumbags that trap and poison so many birds of prey around there...
It’s amazing isn’t it. White Peak area has a fairly healthy raptor population. Dark Peak (which coincidentally is full of stocked grouse moors) has virtually none. Can’t imagine why though....I'm surprised none of the local gamekeepers who spend so much time on the moors and know the ground like the back of their hand have never been able to catch any of the evil scumbags that trap and poison so many birds of prey around there...
It would be a particularly stupid gamekeeper, sorry I mean unknown scumbag, that shot this particular bird, it’s very high profile (as birds go), there’s been literally hundreds of twitchers there every day for the past week.
Boosted LS1 said:
I'd like to visit but don't know where I should go. I know Hathersage and the run up to Lady Bower. Where would I need to drive to to at least find the twitchers with the tech? Also, what's it feeding on if it can't crack open a few bones?
I’ve messaged you some details on the PH email function. TeaNoSugar said:
It’s amazing isn’t it. White Peak area has a fairly healthy raptor population. Dark Peak (which coincidentally is full of stocked grouse moors) has virtually none. Can’t imagine why though....
It would be a particularly stupid gamekeeper, sorry I mean unknown scumbag, that shot this particular bird, it’s very high profile (as birds go), there’s been literally hundreds of twitchers there every day for the past week.
The really sad thing is that even the National Trust and National Park Authority at one time turned a blind eye to it on moorland they owned or managed even though they knew exactly who the culprits were. It would be a particularly stupid gamekeeper, sorry I mean unknown scumbag, that shot this particular bird, it’s very high profile (as birds go), there’s been literally hundreds of twitchers there every day for the past week.
Hopefully that attitude is slowly changing with the National Trust ceasing grouse shooting on many of it's moors in the area.
TeaNoSugar said:
Boosted LS1 said:
I'd like to visit but don't know where I should go. I know Hathersage and the run up to Lady Bower. Where would I need to drive to to at least find the twitchers with the tech? Also, what's it feeding on if it can't crack open a few bones?
I’ve messaged you some details on the PH email function. 
Been to see this magnificent bird 3 times now. It roosts on the same cliff edge each evening and it rises at sunrise and is off looking for food. Was on the moors at 5.30 yesterday - it's a good hours walk to the location.
The land that the roost is located on is NT owned - why they allow Grouse shooting can only be down to cash. Raptors enter this area at their peril! - their absence is a travesty.
The land that the roost is located on is NT owned - why they allow Grouse shooting can only be down to cash. Raptors enter this area at their peril! - their absence is a travesty.
I've seen it today albeit it at distance. First site was at the start of Derwent edge at about 9.15 and it flew away in the direction of Black Tor. When i arrived it Black Tor it had started to drizzle a bit and the bird had probably dropped down into the clough where it's roosting. Just after lunch time I saw it again but not for long because it dropped down out of site. Black Tor's a pretty good spot to get coverage of a wide area.
Both time it wasn't flying high as you may expect and when it drops below the skyline it blends in with the terrain. It also can fly at walking pace, quite remarkable.
Thumbs up to TeaNoSugar :-)
Both time it wasn't flying high as you may expect and when it drops below the skyline it blends in with the terrain. It also can fly at walking pace, quite remarkable.
Thumbs up to TeaNoSugar :-)
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Wednesday 22 July 17:43
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