As regular followers of this blog will be aware I have been fixated with photographing raptors on the Humber this winter.
Saturday was no exception and what a great day it turned out to be.
Arriving at day break I was pleased to see I was the only one there. I hurredly made my way to my preferred vantage point and settled down for a days viewing and photography.
A barn owl hunting distantly followed by a distsnt marsh harrier got things going. A buzzard flew purposefully directly overhead and veered off dramatically as it realised I was only a matter of metres below it.
Before long, the prize subject appeared- a hen harrier studiously viewing the ground below it for any signs of life. Distant at first It slowly came closer only to startle another raptor-a peregrine falcon. I cant work out what was most surprisded, me or the harrier. The peregrine made a bee-line for the Humber , not before passing close overhead in soft morning light.
The hen harrier was joined by a second and they both stayed tantalisingly distant.
Out of the corner of my eye a fox caught my attention, it was mostly obscured by undergrowth but was doing a few of its trademark pounces-no doubt in search of a vole for breakfast. The alarm call of the small birds alerted one of the hen harriers and it steamed accross out of nowhere. The fox however was not impressed with its efforts to mob it and casually strolled off into the field.
The next interesting bird was a merlin. One had flown inland and no doubt it was the same bird returning-I saw it quite late but still managed a few flight shots and always great to see this small and compact falcon.
As the day went on a couple of marsh harriers appeared in the distance but never came close.
Around mid-day a buzzard took to the skies hovering repeatedly but never seemed to catch anything whilst I was watching it.
There were a couple of interesting exchanges with one of the hen harriers, a shame they were a long way off but nice to see them sparring with each other with a show of sharp talons and bills, it was more like handbags at 12 paces with neither keen to inflict and real damage.
The afternoon was more of the same, sun was still shining, a couple of kestrels came close and a couple of close fly-bys from the hen harriers.
I wandered back to the car for around 3pm with the hope of having the last hour on the short eared owls but only one showed and it remained distant sat on a fence post.
The day ended with a magnificent sun set and one of the hen harriers sat on the roadside.
Well there you have it, 7 species of raptor, 2 species of owl and flocks of waders and pink-footed geese, making the most perfect winter spectacle. One of those natural experiences you just cant get tired of.
