Peregrine turned up after ‘the A team’ had left, and perched up on ‘the stockade’. Then 2 GWEs dropped in and there was a starling murmuration over the north end of Canada Farm.

The male was seen again twice briefly this afternoon.  Yesterday’s ice completely cleared this morning! More duck today 30 Shoveller 5 Teal,3 Wigeon and 6 Mallard. Only around 1000 missing birds from the usual number here at this time of the Winter.

Male reappeared 3.20pm, just after the A-team had left. Came from the Canada Farm area, quartering the back of the reserve then flew down the tree line and for a short while quartered the field behind the pumping shed, before disappearing towards the south drain. About 30mins later it reappeared in that field providing good binocular views, then headed over the road.
Seven raptor species seen. Buzzards, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier (m+f), Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel and Thanks to Dean for pointing out the Merlin carrying prey.

12-Dec-2017 (from car park hide)
Male flew in from bridge over South Drain in far NE corner at 10:15 and slowly followed tree-line west along northern edge of reserve to quarter the ground behind and to the west of the pumping-shed, disappearing back the way it had come, but behind the tree-line, at 10:25.
Ringtail flew in from the south at 11:20 and then spent time either quartering the back (eastern) end of the reserve or often settled on ground. Still present when I left at 12:00. I returned at 13:45 to be told “still present but settled out-of-sight”. From then, until I left at 15:00, it gave several views as before.
Also a Juv Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, feeding Buzzard, GW Egret, 18 Snipe (flushed), pair of Stonechats, mixed flock of Meadow Pipits & Goldfinches and a Water Pipit. A male Bullfinch along the approach drove as I left. Frozen over so no ducks.

Visited Catcott mid day, nothing on show until at 1315 a beautiful male HEN Harrier appeared from Canada farm direction a flew half way up the reserve towards the hide chased off by a Crow it disappeared over the trees to the left. In the next hour and a half it made a couple more appearances at one time passing between the hide and the Telegraph pole. Then to add to this around 1500 a bonus of a Ring Tailed Hen Harrier flew the length of the reserve from Canada Fm. disappearing near the South Drain bridge at the old Catcott Line gate!

9-Dec-2017
Ringtail female at Catcott Lows today: present for an hour & 50 mins mid-morning (per Lee Dutton), then again this afternoon for 10 mins at 15:30 hrs.