It was like a scene from a film. This afternoon the storm abated and the skies cleared. Not only were there rainbows, but a male hen harrier flew past watchers at Bolton Ings!
If anyone there spoke, it was probably to say, ‘Blimey! Look at that!’ ( -or something similar).
Here is today’s summary from Old Moor…
As I’ve already mentioned Bolton Ings, John Seeviour reported: three mute swan, one little grebe, one great crested grebe, two mallard, three male shoveler, two tufted duck, one pochard and four cormorant. With them were two grey heron, four female goosander, six (or more) herring gull, two common gull, 316 coot, one jay and – A MALE HEN HARRIER! Thanks John.
‘Finally, some sunshine!’
I can’t add much more detail to the day’s sightings except to say that the bittern seen at Old Moor today was flying over Reedbed Two (the one directly to the left of the Reedbed Hide). Fellow volunteer, Rob Robinson, was one of the lucky ones to be there at the time and described it as, ‘Very close and right in front of the hide’. Some folk have all the luck!
And that’s about it for tonight. I’ll finish with one last picture from this afternoon. It wasn’t just the cormorant that appreciated the change in the weather.
Until next time.
Black-tailed godwit preening on Wath Ings