Macswede
Macswede
This is the closest I've been to a wild raptor. I was photographing Avocets when this bird suddenly appeared. It flew round me and then landed in some reeds/long grass surrounding a small pond. Then it flew across the road and circled around my wife before landing and then flying off.
It seemed huge, probably because it was so close but when I looked at the pictures, I realized that it's a harrier and, as it is so large, a Marsh Harrier.
Since then I've been trying to figure out the age and sex. As it was the end of April it's clearly not a bird that fledged in 2022 but it doesn't look like an adult male or female either. It's clearly moulting, especially in the right wing but I don't know whether that's relevant.
I eventually found 2 pictures in my field guides that seem promising. One is of an old female and the other is a second summer male.
My feeling is that this is a second summer male Marsh Harrier. Am I correct?
It seemed huge, probably because it was so close but when I looked at the pictures, I realized that it's a harrier and, as it is so large, a Marsh Harrier.
Since then I've been trying to figure out the age and sex. As it was the end of April it's clearly not a bird that fledged in 2022 but it doesn't look like an adult male or female either. It's clearly moulting, especially in the right wing but I don't know whether that's relevant.
I eventually found 2 pictures in my field guides that seem promising. One is of an old female and the other is a second summer male.
My feeling is that this is a second summer male Marsh Harrier. Am I correct?
