Though they breed in the long heather of our upland moors in the summer, in winter, many hen harriers retreat from the harsh weather of the uplands, favouring instead the milder coastal lowland areas. They group together in the evenings in communal roosts of 2-10 birds, often mixing with marsh harriers and some other birds of prey. The reedbeds around the Dee Estuary are a favoured spot and a great place to see them in the colder months.
(c) Andy Davis, 2012