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Steart Marshes - 22 April 2014

Steart Marshes - 22 April 2014 (evening)

1 Merlin (female, age undetermined) - located perched on a post far out on the marsh. Twenty minutes later she flew off low and fast directly towards me. A Little Ringed Plover flushed from the large lagoon and the falcon gave chase. The plover rose up and flew around in zig-zag circles. It managed to dodge at least 7 stoops by the Merlin before the predator lost interest, soared up and drifted quite high back out over the marsh. Suddenly, the falcon stooped again at 45 degrees and intercepted (or flushed?) a Skylark close to the ground. The lark dodged the initial attack and immediately began rising vertically. The Merlin turned and adopted a typical 'ringing' pursuit flight. Up and up they went with the falcon making at least 8 stoops before retiring from the chase, unsuccessful. She circled around and then sailed back down onto the marsh and was lost to view.

2 Kestrel - both hover-hunting.

5+ Common Buzzard - loafing about on low perches and one on the ground. Two received unwelcome attention from several Carrion Crows.

1 Short-eared Owl - hunting by quartering the marshes for an hour or so.

Also:

1 Little Gull (1st winter) - sailing about on the large lagoon.
8+ White Wagtail
400+ Barn Swallow
20+ Sand Martin
2 Raven
2 Little Ringed Plover - large lagoon.
2 Little Egret
1 Wheatear

15+ Roe Deer
4 Hare
1 Red Fox

NPW

Re: Steart Marshes - 22 April 2014

Not so much excitement earlier in the day at Steart, apart from a good aerial scrap between a raven, which started it, and a buzzard, which I'd say won on points. Wagtails were on the lagoon, but no waders, and one confiding pair of wheatear.

Wall Common had a tree pipit and 6 little egrets, and on the beach a flock of summer plumage dunlin joined by a couple of ringed plover and solitary turnstone.