If you remember, this was the day I had the photo-shoot with that Reed Bunting but it was also a big day for sightings. It was a walk down the lane to the mailbox and weather dependant, maybe a wander around the ponds.
As ever, I wandered over to the steadings, check on the nest box ...
Still there, still occupied, no changes as far as I can tell.
I walk around between this one and the workshop next door, there's an open field but also weed patches and wood piles and all sorts of stuff so I always check round there before heading down the lane.
A Dunnock popped up on the hedge bordering the lane, always lovely to see.
As I walk down the hill, there are loads of birds in the hedge, most move away before I can get there but sometimes, they just pop up and watch me, which is nice.
There seem to be loads of Reed Buntings around just now.
See, they seem almost curious
That's when one of them decided to model for me but I tore myself away and carried on my walk. I took my time passing the reed beds, there was a lot of activity out there ...
Lots of Reed Buntings but I loved the way that one looks like it's dozing in the sunshine. I did see a Meadow Pipit, I think, it was gone in a flash but I'm pretty certain.
And that's when I looked up the hill over the top of the hedge I'd just passed. A Crow was chasing a bird of prey along the ridge of the hill. Binoculars. Much excitement, attempting to whip out the big boy (The long lens)
A Hen Harrier female. I've known they are around the area for quite a while and randomly get a glimpse of one of them but that's usually all, a glimpse.
She carried on soaring over the field across my line of sight.
When I look back at the shots I got, it feels like I was watching for ages ....... it was six minutes in total.
The Roe deer weren't perturbed at all, why would they be?
Just to her left in that shot is the reed beds and she dropped to the tops of those and had a few drops into them, I tried tracking her with the camera but failed miserably but, she turned and headed back up the field!
Again, I failed to get any shots of her against the field but grabbed that one just before she flew over the hilltop, right behind the steading where the Barn owl nest box is. What a sighting.
Since this sighting I've been reading up on them and hadn't realised how poorly they are fairing, heavily persecuted by us as usual, so sad. Happy to say our farmer is more than happy they are on this patch.
Can't just skip by the deer
I carried on down the lane and back but I think that's enough excitement for now
PS I'm staring out our back window almost constantly now
A Hen Harrier, that's a result Scozmos. I have never seen one, great sequence of photo's.
Very nice set of photos and great catch with the hen harrier. Beautiful.
Great photos of the Hen Harrier Scozmos as well as all the other photos well done you
That's really special to see a magnificent Hen Harrier on your doorstep ! Beautiful photo captures with the scenic background too. Reed Buntings are such pretty little birds along with the wild deer and Barn Owl looking nice and cosy. Lovely sightings one and all.
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Regards, Hazel
Spotted again yesterday afternoon, I stopped the car with the window down and ................................ another car came up behind me on our single track lane
Just aswell your retired to enjoy all that wildlife on your doorstep Scoz thanks for sharing
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)