Eurasian
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus |
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Male
Marsh Harrier, Skinflats |
Marsh
Harrier attacking Carrion Crow |
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Marsh
Harriers have begun to make regular appearances at Skinflats, Central
Scotland, on passage to and from their Scottish nest sites. I watched
this male on the afternoon of 11 May 2002 as it hunted over the
small patches of reed beds while trying to avoid the mobbing Carrion
Crows. During one such episode it turned the tables on one Carrion
Crow and demonstrated that it was not in the least intimidated.
Later in the afternoon it soared high into the air and headed north. |
The
events of 11 May gave me an appetite for more, so I headed off next
day to the main breeding site for Scottish Marsh Harriers and drew
a blank. Undeterred, I returned in July when I knew they would be
more active feeding their young.and after checking a new location,
it was not long before I was watching the male carrying food to
the nest. On my 3rd visit a large pre-migration flock of Sand Martins
(Riparia riparia) had built up and this proved too tempting
for the male Marsh Harrier. |
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Male
returning to nest site with food |
Male
Marsh Harrier attacking Sand Martins |
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April-August
2003 |
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Male
returning to nest site |
Closer
view of male landing in nest site |
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Food
pass between male and female |
Food
pass between female and juvenile |
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