An unexpected patch surprise crossed my path on Saturday afternoon when a dark 'buzzard' over the pond field and woods turned out, on closer inspection, to be a female Marsh Harrier. Not on my radar in winter, this is only my 5th or 6th on patch in the last 12 years, the rest all being between April and August. Saturdays are not good here in winter as a shoot takes place all over the estate between 9am and lunchtime so I didn't expect to see anything at all let alone the bird of the month so far. Needless to say, it didn't linger and just flew steadily west over the tree tops...
Today at the pond field on Peggy's lunchtime walk, the ducks have returned with 19 Teal, 6 Mallard, 6 Gadwall and 7 Tufted Duck plus 3 Little Grebes, 1 Coot a few Moorhens, 5 Herons and the first Sparrowhawk of the year. As we arrived back in the village a Raven called overhead.
Saturday coming sees the final day of the shooting season, so the birds will be left in peace until next winter.
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