Free lodgings but provide own food. Light and noise pollution.

simong · Post by **simong** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 10:27 pm

Leodian wrote: Knowing that Red Kites are carrion eaters my mind began to wander. Have Red Kite ever been seen to eat human corpses? The bird did seem to be interested in me as it kept flying directly over me. Perhaps it was hoping I might be a potential meal (like vultures are known to fly over still living but clearly dying animals). I would imagine that they wouldn't say no to a bit of long pig if they found it, but I doubt they would kill or indeed like most carrion creatures, not even bother unless the body was definitely dead and easy to pull bits from. Vultures are more opportunist than other birds as they are big enough and powerful enough to start on a body earlier.There is a much larger bird that patrols the area around Harewood, either a golden eagle or a sea eagle I think. I've seen it over Eccup as well as around the estate.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 10:33 pm

Hi TasaIf you go to the area try to go to the church in its grounds off Church Lane. It was open when I was there today (it has often been locked when I've been). It is quite magnificent inside with its alabaster (?) figures and stained glass windows. Well worth a visit. The many old and badly eroded gravestones sadly show just how young many were when they died during the 1800s.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 10:37 pm

simong wrote: Leodian wrote: Knowing that Red Kites are carrion eaters my mind began to wander. Have Red Kite ever been seen to eat human corpses? The bird did seem to be interested in me as it kept flying directly over me. Perhaps it was hoping I might be a potential meal (like vultures are known to fly over still living but clearly dying animals). I would imagine that they wouldn't say no to a bit of long pig if they found it, but I doubt they would kill or indeed like most carrion creatures, not even bother unless the body was definitely dead and easy to pull bits from. Vultures are more opportunist than other birds as they are big enough and powerful enough to start on a body earlier.There is a much larger bird that patrols the area around Harewood, either a golden eagle or a sea eagle I think. I've seen it over Eccup as well as around the estate. Hi simongYour last bit is most interesting. Several years back now I saw a large bird on a post in a field near the pub (New Inn ?) but it flew off before I could get a good look. It was huge.

Post by **cnosni** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 10:39 pm

Red Kites are very comfortable around humans.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 10:44 pm

Leodian wrote: Hi TasaIf you go to the area try to go to the church in its grounds off Church Lane. It was open when I was there today (it has often been locked when I've been). It is quite magnificent inside with its alabaster (?) figures and stained glass windows. Well worth a visit. The many old and badly eroded gravestones sadly show just how young many were when they died during the 1800s. Hi Leodian, yes I mean to go to the church some time. It's now owned by the Churches Conservation Trust and is more often open than not during the day (I believe). I've been there twice in the past and it was locked, so it's great news that it's open again.I think this is a Spring walk in the making We are having another go at Otley Chevin tomorrow - I think we'll manage it this week!

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 10:48 pm

cnosni wrote: Red Kites are very comfortable around humans. Hi cnosniSo it probably wasn't eyeing me up as a potential meal! The freely roaming deer in the wood next to the Sandy Gate track are, sensibly, not happy with people (unless it's just me) as they moved away (as usual) as I got nearer to them.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 10:51 pm

Hi TasaAccording to today's YEP the Easter Cross on the top of Otley Chevin was finally taken down last Saturday.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 11:04 pm

Leodian wrote: Hi TasaAccording to today's YEP the Easter Cross on the top of Otley Chevin was finally taken down last Saturday. That's good to know - at least they won't rope us in to help I took this photo of a deer which passed me at close quarters on Church Lane/Sandy Gate and gave me a hard stare:

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 11:27 pm

Nice photo Tasa.This is a zoomed-in and not very sharp photo that I took today (April 23 2013) of some of the freely roaming deers in the wood.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Tue 23 Apr, 2013 11:50 pm

What a lovely sight - so many of them! I will definitely get back there in the next couple of weeks.