As the weather today was bright, and clear with a light SW3 blowing we headed off to one of our upland patches.
At the first stop, good numbers of Reed Buntings were attracted to various scattered pheasant feeders, but the highlight was a calling flyover Snow Bunting heading west. A female Stonechat also kept us company, and the fields held 50+ Fieldfares with 200+ Starlings.
After a cuppa, another site seemed very quiet in comparison. A Stoat crossed our path and 2 Roe does ran over the moor. Leaning on a five bar gate, as you do, I noticed a 'lapwing' crossing the heather distantly to our east. Then closer examination changed the morning. This was no lapwing, but an adult, silvery grey male Hen Harrier quartering the ground ahead.
We had a superb hour watching him hunt around at varying ranges, in good light, until we finally left him to it.
What a bird. Its such a shame every moor doesn't hold these...
Back home, 50+ Waxwings dropped in to the apple trees as usual. There are maybe two or three days feeding left here before they head south...
5 comments:
Nice varied day Stewart and like the Harrier pics in nice habo.
Superb ! Shame there aren't more of these about....
Elections coming up for Police commissioners . . . which candidate will give the highest priority to protecting Hen Harriers?
Hen Harriers are great birds to see...the males especially are stunning. I don't blame you one bit for taking an hour or so to enjoy this bird...i know I certainly would!
Hi Stewart,
I once had a fantastic male Hen harrier low over my patch, I too initially thought it was a Lapwing, so I'm pleased someone else was fooled in the same way I was :-)
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