There'd been sightings of a male hen harrier at Brading marsh NR over the weekend, but due to work commitments I never got a chance to check it out. On my day off today I thought i'd give it a go, with the weather being fair, if dull and fairly nippy (about 5c). Soon picked up a marsh harrier cruising over the reeds. Distantly saw a peregrine swoop down at speed and catch something then fly off with it; interestingly it took its prey to almost the exact same spot me and my bro had watched one doing the same thing, so must be its fave plucking area.
Then moved further down the lane and scanned east of me: my brain caught up with me and I remember thinking 'it's a hen harrier; a male one.' Seemed almost accidental, but I'd locked onto this smart bird and quickly took some vid of it, and though distant, enough for record shots. It didn't show for very long. Then saw it again a bit later on but further to the east of the Yar.
Great to see one, especially given these birds are in such decline to the point of being in serious danger of becoming extinct in England, a consequence of the unnecessary human hunting practices employed in the name of sport.
Otherwise fairly quiet about the marsh, though ended with a water pipit flying over towards the reed beds at dusk.
Distant record shots - but you can see what it is.
marsh harrier
marsh harrier
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