Harriers

Sunday - Walland Marsh - cloudy, mild, W3 - Together with CP the final harrier count of winter was carried out in fine, spring-like weather conditions with 13 birds coming to roost, a decent result considering the adults are starting to disperse to their breeding sites about now. Bird of the afternoon however was a superb Short-eared Owl which we watched for over half an hour quartering the reedbed and ditches. Also noted in the general area singles of Barn Owl, Peregrine, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Snipe and a distant flock of Golden Plovers. Small birds were few and far between as usual with several singing Reed Buntings, a Skylark and a couple of Cetti`s Warblers calling from the reed bed, where Toads and Water Rails were also in good voice.

I had cracking views of a Red Kite over the garden in NR in the morning being bullied by Herring Gulls, which was later seen by Chris from St-Mary-in-the-Marsh, who also noted six Common Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier soaring over the town.