Marsh Harriers and other raptors at Inner Marsh Farm, Cheshire

September 25, 2010:
The intermittent appearance of five different species of raptor kept the other bird-life under great stress. Most persistent were two Marsh Harriers which relentessly quartered the marsh and pools.




Lapwings and other waders appeared to be their main target but on several occasions the Lapwings retaliated when in sufficient numbers by mobbing the harriers although even the Greylags seemed to show some apprehension.






A Peregrine gave an impressive aerial display lasting several minutes, mainly chasing the Lapwings but failed to make a catch and departed elsewhere. A Hobby made a single pass over the pools but was also unsuccessful. This bird was very pale in the vent area and was presumably a juvenile. An isolated Lapwing resisted an attention from a Sparrowhawk whilst two Buzzards circled harmlessly high overhead.

The Whiskered Tern which had been present here for several days seemed to have departed but there were at least five Greenshank, three Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit and Little Stint on the pools. Migrant Hawker dragonflies flew in good numbers around the reed beds.

Marsh Harriers active at Leighton Moss

April 13, 2010:
There was much activity over the reed beds today with up to three birds seen in the air at one time. Often they appeared to scan the area for likely nesting sites, settling on the ground briefly before taking off again and repeating the process. Despite that, there was no sign of nesting material being carried in.





There were several occasions of aerial display, twisting and turning acrobatically. On one occasion a bird perched far out in the middle of the fen on an alder shrub . They are providing considerable interest with cars pulling into the laybys at the roadside to watch.

Marsh Harriers at Leighton Moss

April 1, 2010:
Last week, the first Marsh Harrier was reported to be back here and yesterday there were at least five. Two birds were very active towards the eastern end of the large reed bed and on one occasion a bird dropped down to pick up and carry away what appeared to be a small duck. They divided their time between displaying and gliding over the marsh or being hidden from view amongst the dense vegetation.





Just for a few seconds a bird perched briefly on a large shrub far out in the centre of the marsh.