Last night after the rain had eventually stopped the skies started to clear and bring on an Autumnal chill as we all were sat in Singleton hide for the raptor roost watch. I had been already told that the marsh harriers had hung around site for much of the day and we had certainly just experienced some great views of them at Ousefleet where they had been constantly buzzing the wildfowl only an hour beforehand.
Harriers seemingly homing in on a carcass at Ousefleet yesterday
A closer look at one of the birds
But nothing quite prepared me for what was about to unfold as the sunlight began to fade and the birds of prey started to arrive to roost, a few marsh harriers sat around and occasionally lazily flew around the reedbed. The night before there had been about 10 birds come in to roost along with the superb hen harrier so it seemed all was pretty normal, but then in the distance I spotted one then two birds of prey high in the sky to the north west. They were distant but very high and looked like they could be buzzard or marsh harrier, but as they drifted in it soon became apparent that there was five, no six, in fact about 12+ birds drifted in high over the Blacktoft reedbed and descended to join the other birds.
Harriers form heaven!
As time went by and a couple of merlins sped through at their usual breakneck speed the gathering built as late birds arrived to give a total count of 22 superb marsh harriers in to roost! The strange thing was that I couldn't really recognize some of the birds as being our regulars so where did they come from? There are off course other roosts around the estuary but it certainly seemed strange that they would have been so disturbed that they would have flown high into the sky and move so far before roost time.
Hen harrier from Saturday - you can get better views than this!
Whatever the answer to the strange events of the evening there was no doubting that it had been a spectacular avian event which we had been privileged to witness, with for some of those who stayed also the final treat of the hen harrier also joining the throng - although we'd gone home for a beer and curry!
A quick round up of the best recent sightings over the weekend with a late spoonbill on Xerox on Sunday being the highlight, but also spotted redshank, ruff, black-tailed godwit and greenshank.
This is the spoonbill but at Alkborough on the Saturday
Ruff
The kingfisher continues to be a star with great views often to be had from reception hide, other interesting passerines include the first redpoll of the year today and a late swallow, fieldfare, rock pipits passing west, and regular stonechats at Ousefleet.
Kingfisher in lovely light (Steve Dowson)
With all the rain Ousefleet has become wetter with plenty of wildfowl feeding hungrily on the marsh with at least 1100 teal, 200 mallard, 3 pintail and a mix of wigeon, shoveler and gadwall.Water rails are regular around the edges of the ponds and the odd little egret is still visiting site. A few pink-footed geese over site but their numbers can vary.
Ousefleet duck panic!
Feeding wigeon and teal
Some nice mammals about at the moment with regular roe deer and a few hares alongside the reserve.
Roe deer
Hare
Although I missed the real spectacle I had heard that last week for a couple of hours the ladybirds were amazing on the reserve with the air and hides coated with them, so I was pleased to recieve this photo again from visitor Steve Dowson of just a few!
And talking of beer earlier - here's a few nice hops that are growing in the hedgerow near the reserve office! Maybe time to start some home brew again!
Hops a plenty