Water voles continue to decline in their distribution across Britain but there are signs of recovery in some regions, with populations bouncing back in 11 key areas, according to a report. The river-residing mammal, which inspired Ratty in the Wind in the Willows, has revived in number in parts of Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and East […]
Tag: marsh harrier
Serin at Littlestone and a first for London
Jim and I travelled down to Littlestone in Kent this morning and before 7am we had found our first target as we pulled up outside the golf course to park and we could hear the European Serin singing it’s heart out. The singing made it quite easy to pick out the bird as it moved […]
Somebody stop me next time
With East Yorkshire having a mad migrant day on Saturday I hatched a plan to attack it on Sunday. I knew it was forecast to have a clear night and the wind was against us but the draw of Brown Shrike, Collared Flycatcher, two Woodchat Shrikes, two Wryneck and several other more common spring migrants […]
Purple Heron at Burnham
We attempted to find the Baikal Teal at Ouse Washes today but failed despite checking every hide and walking around six miles in the process. We did find a few Garganey and a Black winged Stilt along with Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, Ruff and a dozen Greenshank. Hopefully the Teal will give us another opportunity. […]
Winter Birds – Tabuk
Whilst birding the Tabuk area recently I saw a few good winter species such as Montagues Harrier. It was the commonest harrier although both Pallid and Marsh Harrier were also seen. Several Long-legged Buzzard were also around the large fields. Three Cream-coloured Coursers were seen along the edge of a large pivot irrigation field but […]
Marsh Harrier Elmley
A very quick trip to Elmley today gave superb views of Marsh Harriers and I even managed to grab a few images as they hunted along the track. The Marsh Harrier was almost lost as a breeding bird in Britain but has recovered enough to have lost it’s red listed flag in 2001. Numbers of […]
A day in Dorset
All winter I’ve wanted to get down and see the Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor so yesterday we bit the bullet and drove the 160 miles down the M3 arriving around 8.15am we managed to find the target although views were not as crippling as the images I’ve been seeing. It was sat on the far […]
Lesser Yellowlegs and Ruff in Dorset.
A trip with friends to Weymouth in Dorset, to visit Radipole Lake and Lodmoor RSPB reserves. The forecast was for warmth and sun but the sea mist didn’t clear all day and it was pretty cold, but good birds were seen including the expected Bearded Tit (though only the one male). Marsh Harrier ( I […]