Who would live in a nest like this?

Any ideas?

A couple of clues - I have a wingspan of over 6 feet, I am a summer visitor to Titchwell, I can be seen hunting over the reedbed. If you have gone for marsh harrier you would be right.

While checking the reedbed this afternoon I came across this flattened area of reeds that turns out to be a marsh harrier nest. The nest is in an area where one of our females sucessfully fledged three young last year.

Although a large bird of prey, they don't really put much effort into nest building. The nest is built up off the ground to provide some protection from rising water levels during the breeding season. Although nest building is carried out by both birds, the males tend to collect most of the material and the females arrange it and produce the finished nest. The nests themselves are not as big as you might expect and are typically only a few feet across making it a bit of a squeeze for the chicks. 

Although generally a summer visitor, marsh harriers are now wintering in the UK in larger numbers and Titchwell is no exception. In the past few weeks upto 9 birds have been seen at dusk coming into the reedbed to roost along with 2 female hen harriers. If you are visiting the reserve in the coming weeks, stand on the hump overlooking the reedbed and watch the area near the dead trees.

Good luck!