Marsh Harriers

JM · #1 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 08:35 PM

Hi all,
I have just spent the day travelling around the Norfolk coast line looking for Marsh Harriers, went to all the 'top' places to see them, not a dickie bird so to speak! So feeling rather let down popped into one of my local reserves and just caught this one

but sadly I have 'misplaced' my bird id book, now I was wondering if this is a male or female? (having never seen one before) and I really can't remember the difference... (not the best piccy, 200% crop!)

Mark43 · #2 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 08:46 PM

I think i can see black wingtips there so that would be a male.....i think

Unlucky in not seeing any on the Norfolk coast JM........the wife and i got 7 different ones at Titchwell and Cley a couple of weeks ago.

JM · #3 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark43

I think i can see black wingtips there so that would be a male.....i think

Unlucky in not seeing any on the Norfolk coast JM........the wife and i got 7 different ones at Titchwell and Cley a couple of weeks ago.

Tried Titchwell, for 5 hours (7am til 12) and only 1 possible sighting but it was so far away I couldn't really tell!

rlchew · #4 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 08:58 PM

I agree with Mark .... black wing tips = male.

I was lucky enough to see a female at Snettisham in Norfolk on Thursday but like JM none at Titchwell this time.

Richard

wildone · #5 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 08:59 PM

Very difficult to tell from this shot but females have gold/yellow crown and leading edge of the wings.

JM · #6 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 09:01 PM

Cheers Richard and Mark.

Clive_S · #7 (**permalink**) 30-04-2006, 04:05 PM

It's a bit hit and miss with the MH I'm afraid. I was at Cley 2 weeks ago (work up there 1-2x per week) and there were about 6 around. One was carrying nesting material back to the nest site, something I'd not seen before. The light was a bit hit and miss but my most amusing shot can be seen here:

http://www.goldswift.co.uk/coppermin...album=14&pos=4

Was at Cley last week and not a single solitary MH around... but then there was a screaming mass of schoolkids around so who can blame them!