The Marsh Harrier of the Fen.

We had a fine evening over the bird hides of Manea. As it was getting towards late evening, there was a lot of activity. However, it was at distance and most of my shots across the fen were no good when magnified and enhanced. I think I'm going to need a camera with a little better magnification than 300m which is my maximum on this.

Through the binoculars, we got clear sightings of a couple of Common Buzzards and a Barn Owl. Also, a good sighting of a Kingfisher too. Everything was tranquil and silent. We drank a few cups of coffee while watching the Buzzards for some time. 

Then on the way home, I got a splendid shot of a Marsh Harrier over the field. All in all, we had a very good couple of hours in the fen.

From Across the Marshland Came the Raptor as though Upon Request.

My son, Paul had come to stay with us in March, Cambridgeshire. He lives in the southern suburbs of London. Therefore, he seems to be very taken by the wide open spaces of the Fenland. Carole and I told him of the A148 road that goes along the Norfolk coastline by the wash. It has some great sandy beaches, fine woodland and fields that have quaint little stone cottages nestle within.

There is a multitude of wildlife and other wonderful things to see. At one point we stopped at Holkham where the drive goes down towards the beach. There is a line of conifer trees with a bridal path behind the open marshland. We told Paul of the bird hide here, where we often look out at the Marsh Harriers hunting.

As we got out of the car one such raptor made an appearance as though on request. I started clicking away with my camera.

Is a Marsh Harrier Hunting the Fields in Front of Our House?

I'm sure this was a Marsh Harrier. It could have been a buzzard or Sparrow Hawk, but there is a black line going around the white of this bird of prey's head. A bit like a Lone Ranger or Tonto mask. However, I'm no expert and could be wrong. This hawk was in the fields across the road from my home. It was some distance and the 300mm lens captured it, though not as good as a more powerful lens.

If it is a Marsh Harrier, it would mean that the bird of prey is also using our fields as a hunting ground. This is exciting as birds of prey numbers are increasing rapidly in the Fenland.

Marsh Harriers and Ice Cream

I was off of work today - the second day of my four days rest cycle. The weather was glorious so my wife and I decided to drive out to Hunstanton in Norfolk. My youngest son Ryan came along too as he has been staying for a couple of weeks. There were a few little traffic jams along the way, but once there we went to the little town centre in Hunstanton for coffee and pastries. Along the grass cliff top, we looked out to sea. I took the odd photo here and there.

After the coffee, we went back to the car and decided upon Wells Next the Sea. Another seaside town we wanted Ryan to see. I could not resist a minor diversion to the bird hides of Holkham Hall. I always like to see if I can get a few snaps of the Marsh Harriers.

Inside the bird hide were three men bird watching. They were very sociable and were talking of buzzards far off by a church spire where Holkham Hall Estate is - beyond a line of trees. It was quite far and on the other side of the approach road, we had travelled by car, beyond the marshland.   

I asked if anyone had seen Marsh Harriers and they replied they had not up to the present. I sat down and looked out with my camera as a Marsh Harrier suddenly flew low over the marsh. I called their attention to this and we all four eagerly looked through our various scopes.

I was clicking away with the 70 - 300mm Nikon lens. One of the bird watchers commented that the lens must be good. I had to reply that I never usually got good shots, but was able to enhance on my computer to get one or two shots of reasonable worth. and put them on my blog called Retro Brit. One man wrote it down. So I hope he gets a look at this.

I got about 60 - 70 shots of the Marsh Harrier and then bade the three bird watchers farewell. From here my wife, Carole, my son Ryan and I went to Well Next the Sea for an ice cream. There is a shop there that does a variety of flavours. We walked around the small quayside and then went back to the car and made our way home. All in all, a nice beautiful day out.

The shots were, of course, at some distance. However, there are a few images that are clear.

Marsh Harriers and Wild Rhododendrons of Norfolk.

Until I moved to the Fenland, I never paid much attention to raptors. It was only when I surveyed my new area that I began to notice all sorts of birds of prey. First it was Common Buzzards that seem to be in abundance around the Fens. I’m told they vanished to West and North Britain in the 1990s. Then they reappeared in Anglia and their population seems to rise each year.

I have seen Red Kites, Sparrow Hawks and, of course, Marsh Harriers. I saw a Red Kite hunting as it circled a field while I drove back to my work place along the A47 from Wisbech to March. It was a grand sight. And then the next day at almost the same location, I saw a Marsh Harrier fly across the road in front of my truck and out over the Fen.

It made me ponder at just how many Marsh Harriers there are too. I had never seen one until I moved to the Fens. Then upon visiting the bird hides between Manea and the town of Ely, I saw Marsh Harriers often. I thought it was something rear, but again, I was wrong. There are great numbers of them.

Today, I drove out with my wife to Wells Next to the Sea. We parked up at the Holkham Beach area, where there is a bridal path covered by trees. The woods create a barrier from the North Sea and the Marshes where these particular birds of prey love to hunt. I managed to get some shots as the raptors flew over the shrubs and grasslands hunting.

Carole's Wild Rhododendrons Woods

We also visited Sandringham where Carole loves to see the wild rhododendrons growing around the trees and woodlands. All in all, it was a very fine day.