Unbelieveable Day! Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine

[nigel_b]

What an incredible day, it shoudn't be that easy! I decided to pop down to Middlebere NT hide on the south shore of Poole Harbour. I took the scope and glasses but not the camera, unfortunately.

Scanning around with the glasses I spied a BoP sitting on a fence post in the distance and I thought straight away "peregrine, that's too big for merlin". I swing the scope on it and sure enough peregrine, with a male hen harrier in the foreground really close to the peregrine.

One of those in the scope is a real treat but two, close together, giving each other the eye was fantastic. After about 40 cold minutes the harrier stretched his wings and flew off, straight towards the peregrine. The peregrine stretched her wings out in defence as the hen harrier swooped over the top of her. The harrier climbed, turned and dived for a second go. Repeat performance and the harrier flew off over the reed beds.

As I followed it with the glasses I spotted a third BoP only two posts down. Female merlin, back to me, brown tail with lovely cream bands and looking about half the size of the peregrine. It simply shouldn't be this easy.

Then as I was watching, the merlin pitched off, straight towards the peregrine. This time the peregrine didn't flinch or stretch her wings, and the merlin followed in the path of the hen harrier across the reed beds.

I was virtually speechless and that doesn't happen often I'll tell you.

Certainly wish I'd taken the camera today.

[Deb London]

Sounds fantastic. I'd be pleased with just one of those. But the reason you saw all three was because you didn't take the camera. It's the law.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Deb London

But the reason you saw all three was because you didn't take the camera. It's the law.

Not quite, "The Law" actually states: "When you have a camera with you the only good views will invariably be just beyond the maximum workable range of your longest lens". I tend to find that good views are often possible, but sometimes make me wish that I was carrying a 'scope instead of a camera!

Sounds like a good experience Nigel!

[faz]

you must be stoked well done

[aeshna5]

Excellent day- I'd have been pleased too!

[Stephen Raff]

That would of certainly kept me smiling for the rest of the day

My mother lives on the outskirts of Blandford Forum, I shall have to make a trip to that hide myself on my next visit although I have to admit to being largely taken by Arne.

Stephen

[nigel_b]

I like Arne, there's a lot of variety but also a lot of people. Middlebere seems much more isolated even though its just over the water a bit. It often turns up some surprises.

[Stephen Raff]

Thats good to know, thank you.

Stephen

[rossy]

bet when you saw those three ,you forgot how cold it was, must have been good to see, rossy.

[captaincarot]

sounds like a good day.

it's always nice to see multiple raptor species interacting