Octoberfest

Another day, another first at Connah’s Quay: an adult female Marsh Harrier picked-up hunting behind the Dee embankment. It took a few minutes to nail the identity of the bird as it appeared to be using the riverbank as a buffer against the strong south-westerly wind and seldom showed.

Not stupid then these birds; I distinctly remember enjoying a very close encounter with a Hen Harrier at this area of the marsh during similarly high winds.

Eventually the raptor let the wind lift it upwards taking it into the realm of a handful of large gulls that largely ignored their stately intruder. The harrier then decided it was time to disturb a flock of roosting Black-tailed Godwits on the opposite side of the river channel, but before it reached the waders it stooped down to the water’s edge and plucked a dead fish from the side of the river.

Before you could say Circus Aeruginosous, the lady had taken its meal back to the marsh on the opposite side of the bank and out of view.

Hoping to get a closer look, I moved down to the hide near the field centre. No harrier alas, but more close views of a Long-billed Dowitcher drilling in the mud for food whilst a couple of hundred Redshank dozed contentedly in the unnervingly warm autumnal sunshine.

Until later.