Examples of work by John Dean and Frances Griss

	Example of work Taken from The Dalesman - Spring 1999
John Dean Frances Griss Examples of work Contact us Home page © 1999 J Dean & F Griss	It is known as the Mountain Blackbird and was once a common sight flitting about the hilltops of the Yorkshire dales. Those familiar with the rugged terrain above the treeline frequently spotted the curious bird spying on them, including its endearing and slightly comical habit of peeping out from behind exposed rocks to monitor their progress. Walkers and dalesfolk had also become accustomed to the bird's distinctive 'pee-u' cry, its capacity to swoop low and fast over the ground and its aggressive response whenever its nest was accidentally disturbed.	For many the ring ouzel was an important symbol, a reminder that for all Man's intrusion and the burgeoning tourist industry further down the valleys the Yorkshire Dales remained wild and remote. But over recent years those same people have found themselves increasingly commenting that there do not seem to be the numbers of ring ouzels that there once were. It's a trend which has been mirrored in other parts of upland Britain and which, prompted by ornithologists' warnings that the bird faces a severe crisis has led to the announcement that this year (1999) will see the first ever national survey of ring ouzels....