Gone For a Burton

A pleasant amble along the fringes of Burton Marsh produced some goodies this morning - as soon as I had got out of my car at Denhall Lane, a Green Sandpiper could be heard calling manically from somewhere out on the marsh.

There was a fairly brisk wind, and a good number of Kestrels were utilising this to hang in the air – no need for a weather cock when these falcons are round.

Whilst looking at the horizon for any signs of a harrier my attention was drawn to a modest sized flock of wildfowl veering up into the sky. The white wing panels on several of the drakes revealed their identity to be Wigeon – a flock of fifty or so, yet another indication of autumn!

The cause of their panic was soon on the scene – a hunting Peregrine falcon. I can’t be too sure because of the distance, but I’d stick my neck out and say it was a young female. Like most juvenile peregrines, the hunt seemed to lack the urgency and decisiveness of the adult birds being a rather half-hearted affair.

It did take delight in mobbing a ringtail hen harrier though. The bird looked pretty fresh and was probably a young ‘un. Regardless, it looked in much better shape than the rather tatty looking adult female that has been limping around recently!

Passing Decca Pools - mostly dry now – I picked out a Reeve and a Ruff prodding assiduously at the fringes of the water. Then a small raptor zipped in front of me and headed for the pool – a cracking juv/fem Merlin. Like its larger cousin, the bird seemed to lack purpose when hunting and was predictably unsuccessful.

Back at Denhall Lane two Green Sandpipers were now wigging-out, but only became visible in flight for brief periods, when they seemed to be engaged in some minor spat.

Soon their calls were drowned-out by a monster flock of Canada and Greylag Geese – a classic sign of autumn. Not long until the real deal turn up.

Until later.