Tuesday 21 February 2017

Not Scarborough

On Wednesday last week we didn't go to Scarborough, but went to our standby location, North Cave Wetlands, as Wheldrake wasn't quite the place to go after a lot of rain.  The morning started well with a Green Woodpecker 'laughing' in the large Ash tree on Dryham Lane.  We didn't get particularly close, but a humble bridge camera shows it throwing its head back to laugh!
Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Green Woodpecker (c) 2017 Aileen Urquhart
 Green Woodpecker (c) 2017 Lynn Hall
One of the most colourful birds seen was a Mandarin Duck which flew off Carp Lake, before returning a few minutes later.   
Mandarin (c) 2017 Aileen Urquhart
However, undoubtedly one of the highlights was the cream crown Marsh Harrier, which hunted within a few feet of the windows of Turret Hide for what seemed like half-an-hour.  It didn't manage to catch anything while we were watching, but it came close.  It was the nearest we've been to a Marsh Harrier at any of the other more renowned Marsh Harrier locations in our area.   By the time the harrier was a few feet away the day had turned very grey and drab, so the photos are amazing considering the available conditions.
Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
Towards the end of our time watching it, the Harrier settled on an island before attempting to drown a Moorhen.  It tried this several times, and for many minutes, but the Moorhen managed to escape in the end.  It's rather a shame it wasn't successful with a Coot, which pollute any location in which they are present!
Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Aileen Urquhart
 Attempting to drown a Moorhen & terrifying a group of Shelduck
 Forcing the Moorhen under water
 Feeding the Wildlife

No comments: