Tag Archives: Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier – 22nd April

April 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd April, birds, cuckoo, Curlew, Goosander, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Whimbrel, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a pair of Lesser Whitethroat were found on the corner of the Slurry Lagoon by the steps. On the river near the bend a female Goosander was resting on the bank and a Curlew, followed by a Whimbrel flew through. A female Marsh Harrier appeared over the Slurry Lagoon, alarming all of the ducks, before quartering the reed beds. After a while it landed in the reed bed but was seen leaving the site a few minutes later. A Yellow Wagtail was also seen and the Cuckoo returned to the Deep Pit fence posts. PS. RW.

In the early afternoon a Hobby drifted through to the east. RW.

Wildlife Seeker – August 2010

January 19, 2011Uncategorized2010, august, bird, birds, butterflies, common scoter, dragonflies, gulls, mammals, Marsh Harrier, norfolk, Red Admiral, shearwater, skua, trips, waders, wildlife, wildlife seekerCarol

As August was a wildlife seeker trip I searched the internet to see what was around. As there was nothing really exciting it was decided that we went to Norfolk.

Five of us left in one car and we reached Cley at about 10.30 am. We made our way to Salthouse beach car park and spent the next three-quarters of an hour sitting below the dunes – out of the wind – doing a bit of sea watching. Gannets were going south in variable numbers. There were the usual gulls and a few waders passing by. A small flock of Common Scoter were seen off shore. It was hoped that there might be Shearwaters and Skuas moving through. The only skua species we saw was so far out we couldn’t identify it.

We decided we would head for Titchwell; at least we could sit in a hide out of the wind.

Alas – it was not to be. We were almost in Stiffkey when the car we were in broke down.

While we were waiting for the breakdown truck Marsh Harrier was seen.

We arrived back in Nottingham at about 3.00pm so a few of us decided to call at the Lagoons for a couple of hours. While there we added Red Admiral and Speckled Wood to our trip tally.

Total trip records (2009 in brackets)

Birds 168 (148) Mammals 12 (6) Butterflies 23 (15) Dragonflies 7 (3) Others 7 (1)

Marsh Harrier – 27th September

September 27, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 27th September, Deep Pit, Lapwings, Marsh Harrier, river, Slurry LagoonJacqueline

A Marsh Harrier flew over the Slurry Lagoon at about 3.30 p.m. this afternoon. It was a cream-crown and probably a juvenile bird. It put up every bird on the Slurry as it flew over the reed beds for some minutes being persued particularly by the Lapwings until they chased it over S.T. land. However a few minutes later it came back for a second try but again the Lapwings chased it away and this time it flew over the Deep Pit and down the river. JMD.

Marsh Harrier – 3rd September

September 3, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 3rd September, birds, Hobby, Lower Path, Marsh Harrier, Reed Warbler, Willow titPete Smith

This afternoon a juvenile or female Marsh Harrier flew across the site, scattering gulls and ducks. There were still several warblers about and some Reed Warblers were still feeding young. A Willow Tit was heard from the Lower Path and a Hobby was seen hawking dragonflies. RW. PS.

Osprey – 3rd May

May 3, 2010Recent wildlife sightingsGarden Warbler, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, SwiftPete Smith

This morning an Osprey was seen flying through the site, along the river, persued by gulls. IB. Ten Garden Warblers were heard singing. PS.

In the early afternoon the female Marsh Harrier returned to the site and dropped into a reed bed. A Hobby was seen and about 200 Swifts went through. RW.

Marsh Harrier – 2nd May

May 2, 2010Recent wildlife sightings12th March, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, cuckoo, Garden Warbler, kingfisher, Kittiwake, Marsh Harrier, Swift, WhimbrelPete Smith

This morning a female Marsh Harrier was watched for nearly an hour as it hunted over the Slurry Lagoon. It very nearly caught a Moorhen, which had to dive repeatedly to escape and was saved in the end by an angry Coot. Several times the Harrier settled in the reed bed and was still there when I left. A Cuckoo sang from the Deep Pit posts and at least three Garden Warblers were also singing. (All ten breeding species of warbler can be heard.) On the river a Common Sandpiper and two Kingfishers were seen and possibly another two were heard and the tern rafts are occupied by up to ten terns. PS.

The Marsh Harrier was still present late morning, showing very much the same behaviour as earlier, and 25 Swifts were seen. In the early afternoon a Kittiwake flew through to the east and a Whimbrel to the north east and at least 120 Swifts passed through. RW.

Peregrine Falcon – 19th April

April 19, 2010Recent wildlife sightingsAvocet, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, House Martin, Little Ringed Plover, Marsh Harrier, peregrine, Redstart, Swift, Tawny OwlCarol

This morning a Peregrine Falcon flew over and perched on the nearby electricity pylon for a few minutes before moving to the next pylon to the north-east. A Common Sandpiper flew round the Slurry Lagoon and a Little Ringed Plover was displaying over the Slurry.

In the early afternoon one Common Tern appeared on the newly recommissioned Tern Platforms. One Swift and two House Martins were seen and a Redstart was heard alarm calling. A Tawny Owl was observed in the willow tree. RW.

Later two Avocets settled on the Slurry Lagoon and a male Marsh Harrier flew through. PS. RW.

Marsh Harrier – 7th August

August 7, 2009Recent wildlife sightings2009, 7th August, Brown Argus, Marsh Harrier, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

A cream topped Marsh Harrier flew south over the lagoons at 4.30 this afternoon. A Brown Argus was found on the Slurry Lagoon bank near the old entrance (D3).