Bird of Prey Bonanza
We’ve hit on a great wildlife-watching spot for our working holiday in the Fen country this week. On our doorstep are ducks, moorhens, coots, partridge, pheasants and geese galore with goslings trotting around amongst noisy, fretful parents. We’re having fun watching hares literally haring around, as well as roe deer. A short walk up the field margin brings us to a dike and beyond it a flood meadow with redshanks, lapwings, black-headed gulls and lots of ducks – shoveller, gadwall, wigeon and teal.
But birdwatching isn’t just about spotting lots of different species. I love learning about wildlife from glimpses into their world. It was a joy to wake up here on our first morning and notice a male kestrel roosting in a tree close by. I watched him on and off for about 30 minutes, mainly dosing, then reluctantly opening an eye in the growing light, dosing again until eventually he couldn’t extend his lie-in any longer and flew away to catch his breakfast – a prompt for me to start cooking mine.
After dinner the same evening we wandered to the dike at the far end of the view from our barn-attic-apartment. We caught sight of a glorious male marsh harrier hunting in the dying light. As he disappeared from view, we watched a short-eared owl quartering up and down the same area and once the owl went to ground, a kestrel atop a fence-post completed the hattrick.
The next day we visited Rutland Water to see nesting osprey. There’s a nest camera in a hide, so we enjoyed close-ups of the nest, as well as watching the birds through our binoculars.
‘Maya’ and her mate are incubating 3 eggs on a nest platform above the lake. We didn’t see them fishing but the highlight was watching them tussle over their parenting duties. The volunteers informed us that the female does virtually all the incubating and relies on her mate to bring food. But this particular male is a modern guy and likes to be in on the nest action. When Maya had a spell on the nearby perching post to stretch her wings and have a good preen, he was only too pleased to hunker down and keep the precious eggs warm and safe. Minutes later his mate returned and could she get him off those eggs?! He was good and comfortable, thanks.
First she asked him nicely, ‘Come on love, off you pop - it’s my turn again.’ He was oblivious. She began to nudge him with her head. ‘Are you listening to me? I’m hungry – go and get the tea. Those fish aren’t going to catch themselves, you know.’ He was having none of it.’ Finally, she resorted to the talons, ‘Move over, you’re not doing it right. I swear those eggs are getting cold.’ At last, he got the message and reluctantly gave way.
What a delightful glimpse into their world! If you have any wildlife-watching tales to tell, please share below.
