After a gap of 10 years we have a hen harrier nest on the reserve. The male is a first-year bird and is mainly brown with a few grey feathers coming through, as can be seen in Adam Moan’s photo.
The pair only got down to nesting very late and experienced some cold weather during incubation. From the five eggs laid only one chick has hatched, which is now about two weeks old.
Supplementary food is being put out on a post near the nest, which the female has taken to, removing this from the post very quickly. She is now in wing moult as can be seen in another of Adam’s photos.
Other birds around the reserve include osprey over the last couple of days, a marsh harrier, a couple of common sandpipers and good numbers of whinchats around the visitor centre (look out for colour-ringed birds).