Saturday, April 19, 2008 - The Full Monty |
Paid a visit to one of my favourite parts of the Wiltshire Downs on Thursday. Too far for a day trip from home, but as I was en route to my parents back in Merseyside, I was able to stop for an hour or two. I was hoping that the migrant Wheatears etc. that are presumably flying straight over North Baddesley and continuing North at the moment might be landing about 40 miles north, but this didn't prove to be the case!
Headed to an area that looked promising on Live Search, but the distance from the lay by to the "promising area" was further than it looked! In addition, the cold Easterly wind that has hit us for the last couple of days was extremely cold along the hilltops. Birdlife was fairly minimal with just a Lapwing, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard, plus two Marsh Tits. The habitat did improve at the end of the walk with a nice sheltered hillside and cows grazing, plus a line of trees and bushes.. looked ideal for Chats, and maybe a Ring Ouzel, but not a thing today.. However, I caught a glimpse of what looked like a gull disappear down into the valley. What followed left me totally speechless as a beautiful Male Montagu's Harrier drifted up and elegantly glided past me at pretty close range. Followed him for about a minute before he dropped down over a hill and out of sight.
What with Long Eared Owl, 2x Osprey, and now the Montagu's Harrier, I feel like I have had about 5 years of Birdwatching good fortune this year!
Returned back to Hampshire via the M40 this morning, and had the typically awesome views of Red Kites along the Motorway. |
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Diary of wildlife watching in and around North Baddesley, Hampshire.
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