Following the great breeding successes of marsh harrier on Radipole in 2009 and Lodmoor last year (three and two fledged respectively) we have been watching the interactions of the Weymouth marsh harriers with great interest in the hope that recent gains are built upon.
Sky Dancing at North Hide. (Luke Phillips).
A new female arrived a few weeks ago and (as detailed in Luke’s earlier blog post) received a decidedly frosty reception from the resident male. There wasn’t a hint of affection in their early encounters but over recent days there has been a marked thawing of the frostiness between the two. Aerial warfare has been replaced by balletic ‘sky dancing’ display flights, lending a more romantic air to their encounters - and not something to be missed.
Just this week sticks and assorted other nesting materials have been carried to what we believe to be their nest site, safe within the watery confines of the newly restored North Reed Loop. Significantly, they have spent periods of time together on the nest, perhaps consummating their union? We are yet to witness food passing which seems to become more regular during incubation and pre-fledging, but there is seldom a dull moment.
To add further spice to the story last years successful female is still knocking about the borough and harriers are not adverse to the odd spot of polygamy so hopes are high for a bumper harrier success. It is easy to forget that before the three chicks fledged on Radipole in 2009, marsh harriers had not bred in Dorset since 1962, and had never been recorded as having nested in the west of the county.
Photo by Dan Dench.
Hi Dom, your point is valid and it is something we are attempting to resolve but there are certain complications that need addressing before we are able to firm anything up. Bird surveys and such like demand untold dawn starts amounting to a considerable draw on staff time and there is no question of leaving the hide unmanned in the evening because, as you are probably aware, we have lost several hides in the past to arson, vandalism and continual misuses of varied unpleasantness.
In the past month we have had at least 3 fires in the considerably less flammable viewing shelter added to the arson on Lodmoor which emphasises the need for someone (and likely from a H&S point of view two people) to be present throughout the extended opening. I have lost count of the number of times I have called out the police in past months because of loutish behaviour – just last night 5 ‘scallies’ were catapulting birds from the viewing shelter and so the issue of safety of staff/volunteers/the hide are all valid concerns.
It maybe that we offer ‘hide guard’ as a volunteering opportunity, but as I say Dom we will sort something soon. They are fantastic birds and deserve to be shared. Any ideas welcome!