π ⛅
19C Saturday 14th October 2017 ~ A gorgeous mild start with a pre-dawn temperature of 15C as I checked out the marina grounds for anything of interest. The
Pied Wagtail roost was dispersing with around twenty or so birds heading out, plus a couple of
Skylarks overhead, the usual hoards of Gulls heading out from Draycote Water and (2)
Meadow Pipits around the car park.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyLL1eYgNB_uGzjMUqUjdYE3VyfSJOx6M64I7RaEiXirP9wzeTqa7nZPzbeCnMK2k3t68Oj3J1AicIClm10rmsQvLCEVBexgS1MLMI3MOBen-1nnVajsQlhinP8FOjUrZo32l9XgS9tc/s400/Mipit.JPG) |
Meadow Pipit |
Arriving at Brandon Marsh just before 8am I decided to head straight down to East Marsh Hide for a look at the pools. A small movement of birds overhead, picking up (4)
Siskin, (3)
Skylark and (2)
Meadow Pipit, before I came across (4)
Redpoll feeding in the alder by Primrose Bank. Fred Stokes was in the hide when I arrived, informing me that a
Peregrine had flushed everything, including a
Ruff just prior to my arrival! Bummer, I've dipped on Ruff thus far this year at Brandon!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKB8nCmG3AMYNxJScREypwf8n5CBK5Ts7eOGLEJwyBiOaJZgvbKsl8YDSnLS4EgNG2sDxabsTdKARMG2QmbMspvk4fY9PjwGyIq6N6y4w9hul33FqrpEqjLx8nlwV3r7IwtiK2tTA70t8/s400/IMG_3286.jpg) |
Marsh Harrier from the East Marsh Hide! |
Anyway, things improved for me a short while later when in from the east came a cream-headed
Marsh Harrier. The bird dropped down onto Newlands Reedbed and spent a short time down before flying off west over East Marsh Pool, providing a hastily taken photo opportunity!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlNc4iY7RFfR8LAGZhMKPO2uRT2rcnp33Z-r9KGyJjsi0286YWIOLs5KctKckTiDNupcliw3YqYx-7U7jDkMJOJqnsof4j4JP55UFuaB2fEozOoOVgo5jGFeZIShSm5KT6tyvjvLFmFU/s400/IMG_3299.jpg) |
Marsh Harrier |
Other notables of the visit:
Green Sandpiper, (2)
Snipe and a good number of
Wigeon, although I didn't make the count!