Been away on the east coast for a few days with Bazzo and Tropical (pictured above discovering the largest bird's nest known to science at South Landing) for mucho seawatching at Flamboro' Head, which produced all four species of skuas, three shearwater sp and a host of other goodies.
Passerines were pretty poor, but the Abba tribute act was suitably surreal (just don't mention that there should be four of them).
Spurn was fun today - not for birds, but for Clifden Non Pareil, one of the rarest moths on the UK list.
The moth was in a jar and we weren't allowed to get it out, so my pix aren't much good, but it was a stonker!.
No one's sending me anything on the comment boards so I guess things are pretty quiet here - but Jellyhead did let us know there was Hen Harrier and Short Eared Owl on the marsh today.
I'll put all the east coast stuff on tomorrow, when I get over three days staring at the sea...
Meanwhile it becomes wet and windy later this week, and the tides are good at the weekend - the Leach's Petrels could finally be on the way.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Marshside has been good for birds of prey, with the following species being seen on the saltmarsh over the weekend: -
Short eared owl, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin, Kestrel.
The were other large raptors sat on fence posts, but due to poor light I was unable to identify them.
The little egret was also knocking about and I had a kingfisher on a post just outside sandgrounders hide. Also seen from the sandgrounders hide were golden plover and 3 greenshank hiding in large flocks of blackwits and lapwings.
Spoke to a couple who claim to have seen a Goshawk hunting over marshside 1. A goshawk was also on the sightings board at Martin Mere, so its possible I guess.
Regards
Carl
Thanks Carl.
Goshawk is just possible - but only just.
John
There have been about three confirmed records of Goshawks at Marshside,the most recent in the early nineties, I think (I don't have 'The Book' to hand). Female Sparrowhawks often look deceptively big against the open background of the marsh, and this may be the source of the present report...but it's always a possibility, wild bird or escape!