When I was a boy there was only 1 pair of Marsh Harriers in the UK, at Minsmere under the watchful eye of Bert Axell. Now there are numerous sites in the south, south-east and east of England where you can go and virtually guarantee seeing them. At some winter roosts the numbers exceed 60 birds. So, as it is now approaching that time of year when their thoughts turn to breeding, it seemed a good idea to try and capture some shots of them nest-building.
At this particular site the pair was a young male and an adult female. They were carrying in reeds and sprigs of bramble to a number of sites, but it appears that the males only build platforms and it is the female that builds the nest when she has selected a suitable site. So that explains why there was so much activity without any obvious interaction between the birds. Anyway, time now to just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
What a wonderful way to spend a morning.
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