Garth Peacock
Ouse Washes RSPB, Cambridgeshire

Archive

RSPB Folwmere again

Thursday 12th June 2025

Local for me

Tuesday 10th June 2025

A day of Terns in Norfolk

Friday 6th June 2025

Ouse Fen RSPB Cambs

Friday 9th May 2025

Two unplanned visits

Saturday 3rd May 2025

Grafham Water Cambs

Monday 14th April 2025

An unscheduled visit

Friday 11th April 2025

North Norfolk again and again

Thursday 10th April 2025

Another trip to Norfolk

Thursday 3rd April 2025

Barnwell CP Northamptonshire

Sunday 30th March 2025

North Norfolk again

Tuesday 25th March 2025

Some oldies re-edited

Monday 10th February 2025

Probably my last blog for few weeks.

Friday 17th January 2025

Tanzania Day 14 &15

Thursday 19th December 2024

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Friday 1st November 2013

I was not really satisfied with the images I took of the Northern Harrier last week so I revisited last Wednesday 30th October for a second try. Knowing that the sun didn't get behind the hides until lunchtime, I arrived at 1.00pm to wait, this time in Churchman hide, one further up the site from Stockdales hide where I was last week.

Vey quiet initially but perfect for photography, light wind and plenty of sunshine so a game of patience was required. The Northern Harrier and a couple of Marsh Harriers were in view from about 2.30 onwards but very distant.

A Peregrine was feeding on the ground about 300 metres away so I watched for a time when it flew past the hide about 100 mtetres away so a flight shot was possible - just.

The the Northern Harrier started to quarter the river bank towards the hide but disappeared over the bank, reappearing much closer and still flying towardsthe hide rather quickly. Sods law, I had the 1.4x converter on so the gear would not focus quickly enough so one opportunity missed, even though it passed within 20/30 metres of the hide.

The a couple of Marsh Harriers took to the air, putting up the wildfowl and giving excellent opportunities for some flight shots.

Then a male Marsh Harrier came in very close and this time, I had the converter off.

And then the final shot when a juvenile male Hen Harrier came in close although the light was on the wane by then

Overall a very satisfying afternoon, even though I missed the target bird - better luck next time.

More images in the Recent Additions section.