Hen Harrier and Rough-legged Buzzard at Wallasea Island

5th November 2018

There had been reports of a Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl and Rough-legged Buzzard at Wallasea Island, so time for a visit to see what was around and find the best viewpoints. We chose a place with a panoramic view next to some hunting areas with the sun behind us and, most important of all, a seat. In the event the seat didn't get used very much as there was some activity for most of the time.

There are also some areas of bird cover crops which had attracted a large flock of Corn Buntings. These were difficult to photograph as they would wheel round then drop into the crop out of sight, but a couple of birds did pause for a moment on the bank of one of the dykes allowing a couple of quick shots.

Surprisingly there was only a single Marsh Harrier flying, quartering the same area over and over again. A second harrier then appeared but this turned out to be a ring-tail Hen Harrier which was on a fairly wide circuit of the same area and gave several views during the afternoon.

At that point another large bird of prey appeared from the right which I had assumed was the Marsh Harrier until it starting hovering before diving to the ground. We moved along to where it had gone down and waited. When it did take to the air once more it was sporting not a white rump but a white top to the tail, a Rough-legged Buzzard.

Unfortunately instead of flying around it spent the whole time hovering into the wind which produced some good shots of the tail and the white flashes on the upper wings, but no views of the underside so that will have to wait until next time.

Well, what an absolutely brilliant couple of hours. We didn't wait for the harrier roost as by now the sun had sunk below a bank of dark cloud and the light had collapsed. However we can save that for next time as I am sure we will be back.