Merlin (fem/imm)
Marsh Harrier (poss. 2)
Whinchat
Redstart
3 Wheatear
Yellow Wagtail
12 Grey Partridge
A superb autumn for Marsh Harriers in the area to the south and southwest of Wantage - 6 out of 7 walks this week have produced. Seemingly all juvs.
Surely theses can’t be the same bird, just wandering from somewhere else like Otmoor - the Lark Hill bird yesterday stayed loyal to the same two fields for a few hours and showed no signs of moving anywhere else. All points to local breeding, unless a group of juvs have relocated, and then split up, which seems unlikely.
ReplyDeleteI'd be certain there's more than one bird involved. They've always turned up on the downs in small numbers each Autumn but certainly seem to be on the increase. I'd think passage birds are more likely than local breeders - there aren't any reports at any other times, and also no reports of adult birds that I'm aware of.
ReplyDeleteFair point on these likely being passage birds, but it’s the concentration in one area that fascinates me and led me towards the local breeding conclusion. Also fair point on lack of adult records in Spring / Summer, but the downs are a big place…
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