HARRIERS AND THE HARASSED

The ringtail hen harrier was seen twice during Tuesday 10th, here at Reeveshall photographed late morning by Andy Field. The bird perched on a fence post for some time and took the opportunity to preen itself.

The hen harrier was also seen at the end of the day flying eastwards along the length of Langenhoe to roost at the Point. It circled a few times over the reedbed before dropping down about 6pm, just after the sun had set.
This is only the second time the hen harrier has been seen this winter coming into the roost, despite several watches being made of the roost over the last few months.
Also seen from the Reeveshall seawall were eight marsh harriers and a barn owl over on Langenhoe.

Andy also saw a merlin over Reeveshall, common buzzard, 2 marsh harriers, goldeneye, 4 yellowhammers and 3 corn buntings during his visit from the Strood to the Maydays area.

In recent months the back of the Island has not been as quiet as before with several local paramotors flying low over the area. Here one comes in low towards the 2000 brent geese on Reeveshall on Tuesday evening.

Not surprisingly all the brent geese take to the air as the paramotor flushes them off the fields and they disappear off to the Geedons.

Other birds noted were a barn owl hunting the grass field near the Oyster Fishery, which later seemed to cross the Pyefleet towards Langenhoe, 10 teal and a pair of mute swans on the Reeveshall pool.

Enjoying the late afternoon sunshine were some of the rooks at their rookery in Shop Lane.

Earlier from the country park two red-throated divers, eight Slavonian grebes, 30 great crested grebes, eight red-breasted mergansers and a Mediterranean gull were seen offshore. Glyn Evans saw a red-throated diver from the park two days before on the 9th.

A marsh harrier flew over the park pond in the morning, a pair of Canada geese were in the fields as was a wisp of a dozen snipe.
A common seal was in the river Colne and five adders were seen in the park. A small tortoiseshell flew across the car park and a red admiral was seen by the pond.