A windy and rain filled day!

Loads of winter ducks there today including some Pintail.

2 Peregrine. Both were hunting at the back of the reserve with some impressive aerial acrobatics! Not sure if the caught anything.

Later a female Peregrine scared all the ducks with a low pass but didnt seem to be attacking anything. She then flew up high and was lost to view.

Male and female Marsh Harrier were seen many times. Landing quite often on the grass.

The male had something in his talons at one point. Couldnt see what it was though.

2 Water rails were calling near to the treetop hide. On the way back I did see one of them.

Photos on the site of some bits and pieces.

1 Great White Egret this pm at Greylake, viewed from Blind Man's Gate Bridge.

11am to 1pm.
A very cold wind, especially sat in the main hide!
Lots of Winter duck as usual, a handsome male Pintail flying around, plus a group of Gadwall in the air at one point, the first I'd seen here this year!
A Pheasant flew across, a Peregrine flew over but not in hunt mode, while a Marsh Harrier spent most of the later morning quatering the reeds at the back of the reserve, putting up hundreds of Lapwing.

Pics on my blog.

Great pictures as always. Was hoping to get down there today. Luckily your pics kept me entertained!

I rather like the "out of focus" Kingfisher!

Haha, thanks for looking James!
I'm sure there will be many more 'out of focus' Kingfishers to come!!

A visit to Greylake this morning was spoilt when I examine my photos on returning home the Pintail that was sat in front of the hide is clearly showing a large gunshot wound and is unlikely to survive, I will post the photos. Thats the sad news, ten to twenty Pintail ,five Snipe one Little Egret ,the usual duck species. Two Marsh Harriers a male and a female were in the air at one moment one pursued by a Peregrine.Earlier the Peregrine had swooped in and took its prey, it was finally located in front of the hide but at a distance plucking and devouring its victim. Photos on website.

Another great day 19/01/2015 at Greylake this time it was the turn of the Peregines to give a display of their aerial virtuosity, Three birds were seen one a juvenile, an adult bird gave a high speed flypast but was not seen to take prey, perhaps it was for amusement only. One juvenile Marsh Harrier passed by to the left of the hide,another a Juvenile? male bird put the ducks into the air, this bird looked particularly stunning in the beautiful light. One Buzzard seen ,Pintails were still in good numbers, a Snipe in front of the hide showed its colorful tail feathers as it stretched its wings, very pretty.A selection of photos on website. Perhaps Mr Nick Williams would like to comment on the age sex etc of the Raptors .

Great photos again Jim! You set the bar very high!

Another splendid day at Greylake 23/01/2015 arriving early I spotted ten Moorhens wandering around the farm track, at the hide a very wintery view ,the duck flock were huddled together on the remaining unfrozen patches of water and there they remained for the best part of three hours until the arrival of a well marked female Marsh Harrier ,that put the Cat amongst the Pigeons or should I say Harrier amongst the ducks,no doubt seeing an opportunity a Peregrine entered the flock of panicking ducks, despite making several passes it appeared the Peregrine went away without making a catch. All this spectacular show for free!!.
Photos on Website

I must have been at Greylake at the same time as James, but in the other hide.
Highlight was witnessing the Peregrine dive bombing the Marsh Harrier again, the second time I've seen this in weeks!
Also A small fly by flock of Golden Plover.

Pics on my Blog!

Epic battle in the skies this morning between 2 Peregrines and 2 Marsh Harriers. Most of the action occured at the far end of the reserve but it was very clear that the Peregrines were really going for the Marsh Harriers. The larger of the 2 (Female ?) often came in with real speed. The Marsh Harriers did not seem to be too bothered and carried on hunting when left alone. When the Peregrines had the skies to themselves they seemed to be hunting as pair. A great sight on a day in the which the wind was capable of cutting through anything. Did not see a single kill.

A gloomy few hours spent at Greylake this morning 25/01/2015 had its reward ,three Peregrines perched on their favorite Old Oak tree away to the right of the hide they occasionally made attacks on the resident Buzzard, the juvenile bird seemed to be the most aggressive the Green tagged Marsh Harrier put in an appearance but drifted off to the left.Snipe were busy feeding close in front of the hide, Little Grebe seen yesterday ,Water Rail seen from the track,to and from home five Buzzards at different locations.

Just to correct my posting from yesterday, the were 3 Peregines in the air yesterday morning. Only just spotted the third in my photographs.

Spot three Peregrines..... (much larger on Flickr)


and the rest of the action

On the way to Greylake a visit to Catcott Lows and I can confirm the two Barnacle Geese were present at 9.32 this morning. At Greylake good numbers of Duck including a large number of Pintail ,a Peregrine flew in and hit down a Duck? but it appeared that the intended victim hid in a large clump of grass after, 5 seconds the Peregrine gave up and flew off without a catch, Lucky Duck?it was then chased by a Crow and gave up.Two buzzards seen on the return journey home.
Peregrine photos on website.

Raptor day at Greylake 06/02/2015 Perfect light ,stage set for the first visitor the green tagged Marsh Harrier, soon followed by a well marked female Marsh harrier with distinctive white markings on the upper wings,a male bird also sighted but a Buzzard was the show stealer, not sure whether it hoped to catch a Teal but it approach a group of Teal talons extended but had to be content to watch the Teal depart.A Peregrine made a high speed pass, two Peregrines perched in the dead tree A flock of 25 Dunlin made several high speed passes but did not stop.Snipe about seven,good numbers of Ducks.
Photos on Website.

Today highlights at Greylake 18/02/2015 great light for the cameramen. A leucistic Coot,plus 20 other Coots on site, similar numbers of Snipe, one Curlew ,a flock of 30/40 Dunlin, two Peregrines perched on the fence posts one with a full crop, the juvenile bird made a very fast attack with a spectacular stoop before settling on the fence post, two Moorhens ,Heron being attack by two Crows, Duck numbers seem to be down on previous visits one Little Egret and the green wing tagged Marsh harrier (marked LI) .Three Cranes spotted by a visitor flying in the direction of Catcott.
Photos on website.

At around 11:00 there were five, possibly six curlews.

Bit off topic but I love your pics