~Rod~'s photostream  

I will be catching up with you all ASAP, in the mean time I hope you all have a fabulous New Year.

Best viewed on black

To the rest of my friends, sorry I've not been around, I'll try to catch up through the week.

This is a steam driven mine shaft engine, raising and lowering the cage, although these days only for demonstration. Despite that it was lovely to see it working and to listen to the lovely rumble as that huge flywheel started turning and then of course there is that lovely steam engine smell.

This place is where the industrial revolution started, back then the place must have been like Hell on earth, but these days it is such a beautiful place to visit.

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Kestrels are the most common bird of prey in Europe, although their numbers have declined in Britain over the last few years, probably as a result of changes in farming and so it is included on the Amber List.
Their habit of hovering, particularly near motorways, means they are also one of the easiest to spot. Whilst hovering they have the extraordinary ability to keep their head totally still, even in strong winds. This allows them to pinpoint and catch small mammals by sight alone. If prey is abundant, kestrels sometimes kill more than they need and cache what they don’t eat.
They have adapted readily to man-made environments and can survive right in the centre of cities.