GRUMPY SISTERS' INK

If you want some golden moments, go and watch the birds of prey flying! Wee had decided to have a quiet day wandering around the market town of Helmsley, with is quint cottages and interesting looking shops. So caring he trusty 128 bus, we found ourselves in the town at coffee o'clock so repaired to a likely looking establishment to get a caffeine fix. Lying around was a leaflet for the Bird Of Prey Centre, built in the grounds of the grounds of Duncombe House. And so we found ourselves at the gates of the park, thinking we could just all into the Centre, but no.......tourist attractions are built for the car drivers amongst us and before us lay the extensive drive up to the noble house of uncombe, sweeping for at least 2 miles.....Greg. Cars passed us headin the same way, and I was tempted to hitch a life. Said we should limp a bit so people would take pity on us, so I did as she asked, and affected a stead limp up the hill. To no avail in attracting a ride, but M into fits of giggles and she promptly disowned me. Can't see why? We toiled up the hill past the castle (ruins)' the great gate, an came in sight of the House, hung a right and found ourselves at the centre. Only finished this year, it is laid out extremely well. The jest face that greeted us was a baby owl, and from then we wandered around taking in the speed our of the eagles, hawks and falcons. The flying show was grand: http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=BWucxN_ZQOE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBWucxN_ZQOE http://www.icbp-duncombe.org/gallery.html We saw a sea eagle, a falcon, and an owl and a hawk flying. Nothing like watching them soar up into the sky disappear, and then come swooping from behind you to pass about a foot away from your shoulder! This was the eagle, so he was nightly grand. This eagle lived the buffeting wind,but the owl that cam out was not so keen and most of his flying was low. The hawk that flew went completely out of sighting the handler was getting a bit concerned. This bird was responding to a whistle and a lure that Charlie was whirling around his head. He told us about the hawk's sight. A normal human has 20/20 vision -- when standing 20 feet away from something, you see it as if you're standing 20 feet away. Hawks have 20/2 vision. They see something 20 feet away as if we were seeing it from two feet away. They could read a book easily from 20 feet away... if they could read. In addition to that, a hawk can see a broader spectrum of light than humans, so they can actually see more colours than we can, plus they can see 280 degrees around. Just when we thought she was AWOL, she came swooping in to catch the lure. Te birds are not named until they have down without a line and so the last bird was due to have his first line free flight. Mission accomplished! They now have to name her! After this up lifting time, we had then long walk down the driveway, managed without a limp, lunch, retail therapy and home on the bus.