Apologies for the double blog today but after writing in my earlier blog that I'd post a better fieldfare photo up so here you go. I was sat in the van on my way to do a bit of work alongside the reserve so could get a bit closer.
What I didn't expect as I was taking the above photo was this fantastic five minute encounter with our adult female hen harrier which flushed the fieldfares and then continued to hunt along a ditch to the side of the vehicle. Wowzer!
It came so close I couldn't focus the camera and as you find out they fly pretty fast so its difficult to get a pin sharp shot when they are only 40 - 50 m away!
Hunting down in the ditch
With ruff flying in front of her!
On the ground - I suspect it had caught something here
Lovely face on view
And second time she landed - I should have got better photo's really here but couldn't locate her quick enough to focus in.
And my best flight shot