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In just a few years the marsh harrier - it could be argued - has become the signature bird of Weymouth Wetlands having successfully bred twice on each reserve since 2009 following a Dorset-wide breeding absence of almost half a century. The early weeks of 2012 have seen a steady stream of harrier activity...

Two Marsh Harriers have been reported at Lodmoor recently. The breeding male is still around and on 16-Dec I saw this one hunting over the back reeds and the moor. At long range the large shoulder-patches make it look like the female that bred at Lodmoor 2010-11 and at Radipole in 2009. Closer-to...

Otmoor is still proving to be an amazing area for raptors with short-eared owls being seen everyday (seven reported on 15th Nov) and hen harriers, merlin, peregrine, kestrel, buzzard, sparrowhawk and red kite all being seen over the past couple of days. After the Wednesday work party this week I got...

Bob, I might accept your comments but for the fact, and on this the RSPB were unequivocal in their reply to me, that their interest centred solely on the estuarine species. The removal of one of 20 turbines to create a slightly larger access to the wetland habitat seemed sufficient to satisfy them. ...

Ray, the tip speed of a 90m diameter turbine blade rotating at 20 rpm approaches 200mph. There is some unpleasant footage on U-tube of a reptor finding this out the hard way.

Hello to you all; I've been an RSPB member for many years but this is my first venture on-line. I want to raise an issue that affects me because it is local to my home, but is being repeated across the British countryside. The RSPB has been rightly vocal in its criticism of those landowners who...

As the leaves are falling and the temperatures are dropping, this November is the perfect time to get out and about to see and encourage wildlife. We are getting a number of enquiries about this so take the plunge and join them! If you prefer to do your bit closer to home then grab your coat and gloves...

I live in Stotfold not far from Sandy , on saturday the 22/10/2011 had a very special bird visit , if all too briefly . A Perguine sat in our tall Horse chesnut tree this now joins other raptors such as the common Buzzard , Red Kite , Hobby , Kestral and a merlin . This area seems to be coming a good...

It seems to be a good time on Otmoor at the moment for raptors. A female merlin is still being seen semi-regularly over Greenaways. Kestrel, buzzard and red kite are almost guaranteed and sparrowhawks are present (I got amazing views of a male yesterday chasing a meadow pipit along a ditch). Short-eared...

There really isn't a great deal to say about our Peregrines this week, as we've hardly seen anything of them! However, I thought this would be a good opportunity to tell you a bit more about the other raptors we see up at the Symonds Yat rock. Buzzards are seen every day and they are now the...

Another shot of the Sparrowhawk bathing in the river kelvin I photographed yesterday.

Got this photograph of a Sparrowhawk bathing in the river Kelvin yesterday

Honestly, you go off for a fortnight’s holiday, in the belief that your Peregrines have three chicks and then you come back to four! Four?! How on earth did that happen? Well, many theories are circulating and I’m not going to go into them all. What we believe is the most likely cause, is...

May I take you back to my blog on the 5 th May – “ If my arithmetic hasn’t failed me for the first time in my life, I conclude that our young Peregrines will then fly 39 days later close to the 24 th June .” Well, I was a day out. The first of our young Peregrines fledged yesterday...

After the excitements of our hunting Peregrine pair last Saturday at the rock , my pulse had only just returned to normal on Monday, when a flying visit sent it rocketing skyward once again. Standing on the viewpoint at Monday lunchtime, something caught my eye circling high above the rock – a...

Well, they had us fooled. Due to a limited amount of hunting witnessed and very little food seen going into the nest, all of us observing on top of Symonds Yat rock were under the distinct impression that we had one, maybe two, young Peregrines in the nest. Oh ye of little faith. We were wrong. Last...

Is the letter an L OR AN I For india Ray

Hello, first time here but thought somebody could help. I distinctly remember watching last round of spring or autumn watch and somebody (Chris Packham?) talking about how certain birds (think it was peregrine) leave wings and breast bone behind, still joined, where others will leave the wings separated...

Hi there http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/?p=2369 I found this interesting website called 'raptorpolitics' and it has shown a missed story about a Peregrine Falcon being killed by a car on the 10th October 2010 close to Leighton Moss It just shows there is so much going on that some...

Hi, Kestrel, sparrowhawk, hobby, common buzzard, red kite, marsh harrier, Honey Buzzard, however Kestrel, sparrowhawk, hobby, common buzzard,Montagu's harrier, marsh harrier, Honey Buzzard, is possible in Norfolk at this time of year :)

Birdwatching in London at 600 feet, on top of Tower 42, the second highest building. They mention possibly seeing Ospreys as well as other raptors and the possibility of Springwatch featuring a webcam from this building. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8590000...

1 of 4 that flew straight over my head

1 of 4 that flew straight over my head.

1 of 4 that flew straight over my head.

One of our local buzzards resting in our garden.