For years, I used to see a female wintering just to the north of Porthmadog when I used to live in the area. For the last few summers we've regularly seen a female at Cors Dyfi too, and even managed to photograph one this season with the osprey nest cams.
Is this species under-recorded in Wales? By definition, they nest and frequent marshy, wet areas where not many people live. Add on top of that, that mid Wales is one of the less populated areas in England and Wales, and you have a recipe for under recording.
Below are a couple of images of a marsh harrier in Scotland last week - the ospreys took no notice until she came too close and the male shot off after her. Ospreys and marsh harriers are often seen together in healthy ecosystems, often breeding near wet, marshy areas.
Three pairs of breeding ospreys in Wales now, but still no marsh harriers - there 400 pairs breeding in England. It's not a matter of if hopefully, but when, in Wales.
Hope you're right Ems - logically no reason why they shouldn't be in Wales as long as the right environments are there for them
ReplyDeleteEms, all the best marsh harrier habitats are well monitored in Wales and although pairs do turn up in likely places (such as Cors Erddreiniog on Anglesey), there has been no breeding in Wales for over 35 years. Amazing to think that in East Anglia, they now nest in corn fields!!
ReplyDeleteDo they nest at inner marsh yet?
ReplyDeleteIf not only a matter of time for there (and here)