Harrier roost at Blacktoft.

 

 This was the sky over Blacktoft on Sunday evening as I walked from the Reception Hide to Singleton Hide to watch the marsh harrier roost.

The weather slowly improved during the day, it was very misty and dull when I first arrived at 0730.

Lots of teal and shovelers were on Ousefleet Lagoon, along with about 200 lapwings and 7 black tailed godwits. Three ships glided "through the reedbed" on their way to Goole. I assumed that the lapwings had been on the apex and head been disturbed by the ships, the lapwings did not seem happy and kept taking to the air only to return the same area a few minutes later.

Marsh harriers were visible all day, this one was perched on a fence post for at least one hour. Several visitors were able to get a close view of the harrier, and for some this was their first view of one.

A pair of mute swans were feeding on Xerox lagoon.

Lots of visitors were hoping to see a hen harrier, as one had been seen earlier in the week, but sadly not on Sunday. Marsh harriers came into roost from about 2pm and then about 4pm about 20 of them took to the wing and displayed to waiting visitors. Another of nature's spectacles.