Hen Harrier

Dungeness RSPB - cold, dry and sunny, NW3 - Spent an interesting afternoon filming with the BBC Countryfile team, mostly from the viewpoint overlooking Hookers from where we had superb views of up to four Marsh Harriers and a cracking adult female Hen Harrier that eventually drifted off towards the army ranges. All the expected reedbed birds were noted including Bearded Tit, Cetti`s Warbler, Water Rail, plus a most unexpected female Common Scoter in the reed-bed channel. For the final hour around sunset we moved over to ARC for the Starling show, but only a small flock came to roost in the reed-bed in front of Screen hide. However, we had distant views of a large murmuration comprising several thousand birds - back over the road at Dengemarsh! On the walk back to the car park 22 Cattle Egrets flew to roost.