28-04-07 OTTERBURN RANGES

Today it’s a visit to Otterburn Ranges although it involves Archaeology I always take my bins, started off at Linn Brigg my first visit to this the site of a medieval village a great setting Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail & a couple of Buzzards overhead, we had permission to venture into the fire zone as there was a break in the firing for the lambing season,first instructions where DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING or be tempted to kick it to one side and beware of Adders.
I am quite adept at stepping around dog crap that abounds at St Marys’ so it would be no problem for me, within seconds of leaving the road there are bits of something everywhere be it fins of mortars or parachutes from flares,but the message was the same do not touch ,and it was not long before the first Adder was seen but it rapidly went down a hole, but this one I got a couple of shots of as it slid around the bottom of a shell crater,this must have been warmed by the sun as it moved very fast., plenty of Wheatears around along the fence lines and Meadow pipits everywhere only one Merlin glimpsed as it went over a hill near Trow Law great views of the Roman Camps at Chew Green.
I had not realised how large the ranges where , a sizable chunk of Northumberland with little or no access and as it has been there for nearly a hundred years it will never change.
ONE CAREFULL OWNER
DO NOT TOUCH

DO NOT TOUCH
DO NOT TOUCH
DO NOT TOUCH
DEFINITELY DO NOT TOUCH
VIEW FROM THE TANK