Birds at Low Force - Gibson´s Cave

I came back to Low Force early in the morning to take closeups of the various birds I had seen the day before. The Dipper (Wasseramsel) was just below Low Force. It was good to arrive early because during the day it gets quite busy. The bird on photo #3 is most probable a ChiffChaff (ZilpZalp). The Bumble Bee was an unexpected bonus. The Lapwings (Kiebitz) were again in the same meadow.  Two occasions where I managed to get good shots of the Lapwings being in the pastures next to the river. I think the Lapwing on the last of the second batch of photos is hatching the eggs in the nest. The Bumble Bee was an unexpected bonus.The white wagtail (weiße Bachstelze) was very far away and it was well camouflaged amongst the rocks at Low Force. The photos of the white wagtail later on were taken just below Bowlees Visitor Centre and are much clearer. I was particularly happy to get good shots of the Treecreeper (Baumpfleger) because I managed to see one last year in Brühl at Birkhof. Again it is startling how well this Bird is camouflaged against its natural treetrunk habitat (especially on the last photo of the series). On my way back some good shots of a Robin and a good example of the unusual stone walls in this area (photo #18 this wall is not in a good shape but there are others which are fully intact closer to Holwick Scar). Unusual because of the stones being used. These are clearance stones, gathered from the fields. They came out of the glacial till and their rounded shapes are the result of having been ground against other boulders as they were carried by ice. These contrast with the angular blocks of local sandstone used to make most North Pennine walls and buildings.

 After an early lunch at the Bowlees Visitor Centre I had a short walk up the hill with the beautiful scenery of Teesdale at its best. On the last photo of the series you can see the Visitor Centre down below and across Holwick Scar with the Crag where I took the Panorama a few days later. Afterwards I walked up to Gibson´s Cave to take photos of the waterfall.

The waterfall is called Summerhill Force, but because of the recess behind the waterfall it is more affectionately known as Gibson’s Cave.

Why so? Local legend has it that in the 16th Century there was an outlaw named William Gibson on the run from the Constables at Barnard Castle. It is said that he hid here in the cave like recess of the waterfall. Apparently he was locally a very liked man and people used to bring him clothes and food as he lived there, hidden behind the water.

 I climbed across the wall and stood behind the waterfall. Since I did not have my Tripod and my ND Filters with me I decided to come back another day. On the way back I stopped at a small layby and took photos of a derelict shed next to an old tree and a small stream. 

A scene I had discovered the day before on the way back. It pays not to be in a hurry......