It's official! A marsh harrier pair have successfully managed to breed for the first time ever at Kinnordy!
As if it wasn't exciting enough knowing that the marsh harriers finally had one fledged juvenile, it turns out we now have TWO juveniles!
It's great watching the family of 4 flying over the reedbed, near the nest, and west over middlemarsh. Food passes are now more amazing with the male feeding both the female and the juveniles.
Although the juveniles are almost identical to the female you can tell the difference : 1.) Both juveniles are a dark brown - not as light as the female is, 2.) The juveniles have an orangey head, rather than a creamy colour of the female, 3.) The pale colouring of the head does not extend onto the wings of the juveniles, like it does with the female; and finally, 4.) you can hear the juvenile's squeaky calls, especially before food passes that are about to take place - the adult harriers are very quiet and you never really hear them, so it makes a change!
This is the news we have all been waiting for...
Yesterday (Tues, 9th Aug) there was a sighting, by one of regulars, of a juvenile marsh harrier flying with both parents!!
Looks like the marsh harrier young has finally come out of hiding. All the waiting and patience endured by staff, volunteers and visitors, alike, has paid off and it's good news. After months of speculating if the pair had successfully produced young, it has come true. Hope, of knowing if the marsh harrier pair had bred successfully and seeing a juvenile, had slowly started dwindle as time was passed by.
It looks like there is only one juvenile - but one is better than none! This is all very exciting and I can't wait to get back to the reserve to see it with my own eyes.