Marsh Harrier

A productive morning with several migrants pushing through the brisk easterly.

 

Female-type Marsh Harrier - the first for the year. Flew north battling against a brisk easterly. Presumably an adult (older) female due to contrast in lighter underwing and dark fingers. A relatively broad-winged bird typical of females. Males are slimmer and 2cy males should be showing grey/silvery feathers in wing or tail by now. This individual is also quite fresh with few signs of wear (or contrast in moult) supporting the adult female idea as adults would have completed a full cycle of moult before migrating back. (ref Forsman 2016). 

Maybe the last of the Fieldfares heading north. Also a couple of Meadow Pipits, 9 Water Pipits, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 LRP and 4+ Kestrel and 2-3 Sparrowhawks maybe have also been migrants. 

 Good views of Kestrel hovering in the brisk wind.

Kestrel- topside (Still trying to work out what age/sex this is- leaning towards a 2cy male) 

 10 Greylags today- an increase in records is a feature of this time of year 

 2-3 pairs of Shelduck about 

 Two Cormorants heading north. Presumably 'Continental Cormorants'. 

 Black Swan still around 

 An interesting pale gull (either a pale Herring Gull or hybrid (Viking Gull type)). 

 Justice for Crows. Don't often photograph them. Often 50-100 birds around which is quite a gathering. 

The numbers of Fox records have reduced in recent years so good to see this individual in the Obs garden