Circling

Flying round parts of Blacka in recent years have been several birds of prey. Buzzards are commonly seen in the west country but less so in these parts before now. That may be because of a history of persecution by farmers and gamekeepers. A hundred years ago the resident gamekeeper living at the house on Bole Hill would not have allowed any birds of prey to establish themselves in the area. Only this year buzzards were killed in the southern part of Derbyshire between Matlock and Ashbourne, testament to the largest predator being intolerant of smaller predators.