I was down in the hide the other day and I was lucky enough to see this female Hen Harrier. Two ladies visiting from Hereford (camping in Tredegar Park and cycling to the reserve to get there for about 7:30 am) told me they had seen it the previous afternoon, so hopefully it's going to make it a habit of foraging across the reserve - I'd previously only heard of sightings in Goldcliff.
Very nice John, helpful for future identification.
Well done John. I like the way it banks and gets taken away on the wind. You've done a good job tracking it.
Thanks both! Glad you liked it!
Nice video John .. I think Nigel saw it on the reserve on Monday, so it's still about.
I've only seen it there once, and that where the burnt reed bed was, and it was before it got burnt. It was looking for starlings roosting in the reeds.
Ant
I've seen the Ringtail (female) Hen Harrier Twice this winter, the first time was during December 2013, and again this last Monday. Both times the bird was seen over the saltmarsh around the mouth of the Usk, The first time quartering the saltmarsh, and the recent one flying fairly high towards the west bank over the actual river estuary. As they are quite regular visitors to the Rumney Great Wharf area, I suspect that this bird is one of these birds that is further east than usual. It's a good sign :o) I also saw a Female Merlin is the same area on Monday, quite a day for Ringtails ;o)
Best regardsNigel
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Thanks Ant and Nigel, both for the feedback and news about further sightings. It's positive proof that the reserve is doing it's job of providing a replacement for the habitat lost by the Cardiff Bay barrage. Talking of doing its job the recently made scrape by the visitors' centre has become a haven for Little Egret (you can see something of that in the video) and I wouldn't be surprised if somebody in that hide doesn't catch a glimpse of the full mating display one day soon. Loads of Chifchaffs and four Sand Martins today seen from the hide.