A fearful symmetry.

We are undoubtedly guilty on this blog of marsh harriercentricness to the detriment of, say dunnock or their LBJ compatriots. However when a set of photographs as dramatic and narrative as the following arise we are duty bound to publish - and further marginalise the poor dunnock.

Allan captured these images of the Radipole female terrorising a coot family cooped up in the rushy margins. On 5 occasions she dropped on them attempting to snatch a cootlet - each time repelled by the tenacious parents. Anyone who has had the misfortune to handle a coot will tell you that they are decidedly narky, quarrelsome birds, (characteristics to be greatly admired in my opinion) and this stood them in good stead as the huntress went unrewarded.

Shortly after this and having been alerted by Allan of her activity I was fortunate enough to pick her up in Buddleia lagoon performing the same trick on a family of gadwall. The attendant female gadwall was diving and dashing about and seemed to perform the ‘winged duck’ routine to draw the determined raptor from her brood. I lost count of the number of occasions that she swooped upon them and was often hanging in a slow winged hover a few feet above the tormented ducks.

This morning, as if to emphasise the value of perseverance, she employed a different 'cooting' tactic; stealing in on the parents blindside and whisking away a chick before the parents knew what was happening.

If you have yet to see the harriers I would recommend that you do so now as the amount of activity is unprecedented and fledging immanent. It may not be safari but as far as British wildlife is concerned it doesn't get much better or more dramatic in my humble opinion.

'What immortal hand or eye, dare frame thy fearful symmetry?' William Blake may have been alluding to a tiger but it fits equally well for marsh harrier. Thank you to Allan Neilson for these remarkable photographs.

A young coot can be just seen wisely tucked in beneath it's plucky parents.