puddleshark

Yesterday was glorious - the sky a pale March blue, with fluffy white clouds sailing by, and, if you were lucky enough to find a spot out of the cold March wind, there was actual warmth in the sunlight. Today, being my day off, there is of course a storm blowing in. But the rain held off long enough for me to take a walk down the track to Middlebere Farm, out to the bird hide on the edge of the harbour.

Heard what I thought was a Chiffchaff singing on the Common on Sunday, but wasn't entirely sure. But yes, the Chiffchaffs have definitely arrived. Heard my second Chiffchaff of the year singing from the hedge alongside the track, song still a little hesitant, but unmistakable.

Grey sky over the reedbeds, getting darker by the minute.

Middlebere Farmhouse, now a National Trust holiday cottage.

Chaffinch. Lots of Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Wrens in the overgrown orchard beside the farmhouse.

The ubiquitous Canada Geese on the edge of the harbour channel, and a couple of Shelducks in the background.

The bird hide beside the harbour was already occupied by a gentleman with a big spotting scope, and I didn't want to disturb him, so put my camera away. Sat quietly at the other end of the hide, with my flask of coffee, and tried out my binoculars. They're just a cheap pair I bought off eBay, but they gave me a reasonably good view of the nearer birds.

Low tide, and Curlews and Shelducks feeding on the great expanse of mud. A narrow deep channel of water in the centre lined with small dark ducks, too far away to identify. Lots of Little Egrets stalking, hunched and grumpy-looking, through the rushes, with the wind unable to resist playing with their fine white feathers.

The gentleman at the other end of the hide said "Look, there's a Marsh Harrier. Look for the cream head...", and there was indeed a female Marsh Harrier, hunting low above the reeds and vegetation on the other side of the channel, occasionally being mobbed by crows. Quite hard to spot against the vegetation had it not been for her pale head. Impressively big - almost Buzzard size.

A little later she made another pass along our side of the channel, sending all the small ducks up in one great flock, wheeling away in panic, while the larger Shelducks completely ignored her.

Outside the hide, could hear the wind getting up in the trees. Thanked the gentleman for pointing out the Marsh Harrier to me, shut and bolted the window at my end of the hide, and headed back along the track, with a few spots of rain in the air, and a sense of more rain coming imminently.