Evening all. Very little in the way of actual bird news today but Jerry Hoare managed to capture a female Merlin perched up on a briar after an unsuccessful hunting sortie. I can not actually remember anyone ever getting a shot of one of these fast moving little falcons on the reserve before now!
I was also sent a stunning shot of our immature male Marsh Harrier taken on Sunday by Mark Phillips. You can see that he is now attaining more adult type plumage underneath but remains largely dark above. Compare this with the shots taken in November and December and you will see what I mean.
Malcolm Rush spotted the Merlin when we were working in the centre of the reserve on Thursday.