A red sun rises over the radar station on Alnwick Moor, highlighting a tall hare at the meadow’s edge. The hare lopes forward, poised as if ready to tumble, then sits up and shakes dew from its paws. Nearby, a pheasant unleashes a raspy crow.
Wildlife on the Moor
These animals qualify as game in England, including the red-legged partridge plodding through weeds at the meadow’s base. Gamekeepers likely released the pheasant and partridge last summer, leading them to this farmland. Hares, however, roam wild in Britain since Roman times.
This spot lies north of Hadrian’s Wall, about 40 miles away. Straight roads here trace back to the British army rather than Roman engineers. A crisp wind cuts through despite the warming sun.
Fieldfares Head North
Massive flocks of fieldfares—stocky birds resembling Viking raiders—fly northeast across the fields toward breeding grounds in Norway, Finland, and eastern Europe. Their passage signals winter’s lingering grip. Evenings turn bitterly cold well before darkness falls.
Clear Skies Marred by Satellites
Northumberland boasts wide, clear night skies on the edge of the International Dark Sky Park. Stars shine brightly on recent clear nights. Yet, the heavens feel crowded after a long absence from such views.
Approximately 15,000 satellites now orbit Earth. Night skies pulse with fast-moving bright dots slicing through constellations, disrupting their slow rhythm. Binoculars reveal Jupiter swarmed by drone-like objects. Elon Musk’s Starlink constellation trundles south like a celestial freight train, adding to the unease.
