I
came out of hibernation on Thursday and went birding. It was overcast and a little chilly but not as icy as it has been of late and we set off to Burpham for another crack at the rough-legged buzzard. As it turned out we couldn't confirm a sighting this time but we did see a hen harrier hunting down the valley, skimming along the top of a hedge line, and this was a first for me.
Also thrilling, were some excellent views of the beautiful red kite, kestrels and a number of common buzzards. On the way there we had come across a flock of Bewick swans too, so not a bad visit at all. We ate our picnics while standing up, so worried were we that we might miss old rough-leg but we only had a possible sighting. There was a distant buzzard circling and occasionally hovering which appeared to have the right markings in the appropriate places but even through the 'scope it was impossible to be certain. Meanwhile we also saw corn bunting, most of the Turdidae and several red-legged and grey partridge.
In the afternoon we decided to try and see the tundra bean geese at Beeding Brooks but (as we were later advised by a knowledgeable local lady walking her dog) we were not in quite the right place. We did see a lot of cormorants, a couple of little egret and best of all several short-eared owls, both in flight and perching.
By the end of the afternoon there was quite a lot of blue sky visible and we were treated to the most spectacular sunset. Unfortunately we are both aware that it probably signifies that the air quality was particularly appalling but nevertheless it was breathtakingly beautiful.
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