That northerly wind really is cold!
I managed to spend a couple of hours out and about, checking a peregrine nest site for occupancy earlier this week. Unfortunately I didn’t even get a glimpse of a peregrine, but things are beginning to happen…
The first sky dancing hen harrier was seen last Saturday, but only just! Low cloud on Friday and Saturday made observations a bit tricky, but, as always, the wait is always worth it. This individual was a juvenile male - one hatched last year, and still in his brown plumage. Not being in his striking blue grey adult plumage on top and white below, topped off by contrasting black wing tips, these males always have to try a bit harder than the full adult males to attract a mate (and mostly they don’t!). Maybe this is the reason why these brown males seem to be much more active, and hence more inclined to sky dance, than their older counterparts. Perhaps there are parallels here with humans.
Anyway, our tally of occupied hen harrier nest sites still stands at five, having seemingly stalled after last weeks influx. Our earliest occupied site had a male and female apparently prospecting for a nest site within their territory mid-week. Perhaps towards the end of next week we will see the first signs of nest building. Watch this space.
Speak to you soon.
Pete