With warm temperatures today in East Kent reaching up to 19.5 degrees at times I made a very welcome visit to Grove Ferry after work for a couple of hours, even wandering around the reserve in a t-shirt. I birded from the ramp and Feast hide with a walk also down to the Marsh hide. The weather really was superb with cloudless blue skies and I kept checking for a large raptor or two but had to content myself with some displaying Marsh Harriers, an excellent sight and sound. Birds noted included 14 Ruff from the Marsh hide, 4 Marsh Harrier including a hunting bird not far outside the hide providing the camera with some action.
Marsh Harrier
There were 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Golden Plover, 2 Green Woodpecker, 4 Dunlin, 2 Water Pipit, c500 Lapwing from the Marsh hide which looks in excellent condition. Also noted were 12 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Skylark, 29 Cormorant, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Canada Geese, c80 Greylag Geese, 5 Linnet and c80 Fieldfare. Often overlooked there were a few Coot to photograph which in the bright light looked rather nice. Will the weather continue to the weekend, probably not but a taste hopefully of things to come.
Coot
Excellent Marsh Harrier Marc and the Coot is a beauty it was a fantastic day, I would have liked to have got out and about.
ReplyDeleteSuperb images.............
ReplyDeleteBoth of those are beautiful! The red eye really stands out nicely on the coot. Gorgeous lighting!
ReplyDeleteMarc ,
ReplyDeleteGreat action shot of the Marsh Harrier , and as heyBJK says , the eye on the male Coot caught perfectly .
Nice fly shot of the harrier,always a treat an joy to watch above the reeds!
ReplyDeleteSaludos from Spain!
Glad you had some warm weather & clear skies!! The Marsh Harrier photo is superb! Must be quite a sight to view.
ReplyDeleteAnother hard day at the Academy then!
ReplyDeleteCoots, overlooked, not here Marc, did some Coot photo's myself today, not as good as yours though :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic hunting pose of the wonderful Marsh Harrier Marc.
ReplyDeletehi mark great shotskeep them coming
ReplyDelete