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Steart Marshes - 23 April 2014

Steart Marshes - 23 April 2014 (late afternoon - evening)

1 Merlin (adult female) - observed flying low and landing on a post far out on the marsh (adjacent to the post used last evening by the same individual). She sat for 10 minutes and began preening. Then 3 Carrion Crows appeared and the falcon flew off low and fast towards me. She passed close-by (c15m) in fabulous light and then rose up, accelerated and intercepted a Wood Pigeon!, which veered off and was chased briefly but not seriously. The Merlin moved off high Westwards and dropped down far away towards Catsford Common.

1 (or 2?) Peregrine - an adult male was located perched on a pylon. After c30 minutes it flew off NE and dropped down beyond Stert Point. Later a male (age undetermined) soared around high above the marshes and drifted out towards the seashore.

4 Kestrel - including three hover-hunting at the same time.

1 Marsh Harrier (female type, immature, with a damaged and shortened tail) - quartering Wall Common and the marshes on and off all afternoon/evening.

3-4 Sparrowhawk - three flying high or soaring in different directions. Later an adult male appeared above Marsh Farm and soared up quite high with 120 Hirundines bunched up above it, one or two of which bravely bombed the hawk. It drifted towards Wall Common and made a vertical stoop at a small passerine but was unsuccessful. It rose up again and soared around higher and higher until at least 400 - 500m up. It drifted around for over 10 minutes and began tracking inland before making a truly spectacular 80 degrees stoop and disappearing behind trees.

10+ Common Buzzard - singles flying around quite low and two pairs soaring higher.

Also:

1 Little Gull - swimming around on the large lagoon.
6+ Yellow Wagtail - feeding around the large lagoon.
30+ White Wagtail - feeding on islands in the large lagoon.
8+ Pied Wagtail
3 Little Ringed Plover - several song/display flights seen.
13 Whimbrel - moved Eastwards in two groups (2 and 11).
1 Curlew - moved Eastwards with two Whimbrel.
4 Lapwing - displaying and all four mobbing two Carrion Crows.
140+ Barn Swallow
100+ Sand Martin
10+ House Martin
5 Raven
2 Teal
120+ Shelduck
30+ Mallard
4 Little Egret
10+ Grey Heron
1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing near the Main Car Park.

Delighted to meet Tim McGrath (Site Project Manager) and Alys Laver (Warden) at the Lagoon ViewPoint this afternoon.

NPW

Re: Steart Marshes - 23 April 2014

Having just returned from watching the bird massacre in Malta I am surprised any Marsh Harriers make it here.

Re: Steart Marshes - 23 April 2014

Fortunately Paul many of our British marsh harriers are now resident and don't run the gauntlet of a Mediterranean crossing.