British Wildlife

Stodmarsh – hunting hen harrier

Posted by Steve Parr on

St Patrick’s Day

In the bright afternoon, a female hen harrier flies low over the ground and always into the sun to ambush the teal and snipe near the Marsh hide. She never manages a kill but comes very close; the snipe screech and take off and the teal flock splashes into the middle of the water where the various pairs in their pristine, spring plumage quickly regain their composure. A pair of gadwall and and a few lapwings also fly up and away and, for a few moments, the harrier creates total pandemonium.

A view of Stodmarsh NNR
The view from the Marsh hide at Stodmarsh
A bird flying over a field of tall grasses and reeds under a clear blue sky.
Female hen harrier low over the reeds
A bird flying over a marshy area with tall grasses and green shoots in the foreground.
Coming low across the open ground
A hawk in flight above tall grass and reeds near a water body in a natural landscape.
Hunting the marsh
A majestic bird of prey flying over a grassy wetland with tall reeds in the background.
Hunting the marsh
A hawk soaring gracefully in the sky against a clear blue background.
Twisting in to a dive
A hawk in mid-flight against a clear blue sky, with blurred trees in the background.
A contorted dive
A hawk flying over a grassy field with tall grasses in the background.
Away empty-handed
A bird of prey, possibly a hawk, flying over a blurred landscape of trees and grass.
Moving off before coming in again later
A group of ducks swimming in calm water, with one duck flapping its wings and creating ripples.
The flock rushed to the centre of the water as the hen harrier approached
A male teal duck swimming on a calm body of water, with a female duck visible nearby, both surrounded by blue water.
Pair of teal
A group of ducks swimming in a serene pond surrounded by green grass and vegetation.
Part of a small flock of teal
A bird in flight against a clear blue sky.
Lapwings also took flight
A duck in flight against a clear blue sky.
As did the gadwall
Two ducks swimming on calm water with reflections, surrounded by sparse vegetation.
Gadwall pair

2 Comments Add yours

  1. michael9murray says:
    March 25, 2026 at 5:33 pm

    I loved this, thank you

    Reply
  2. Steve Parr says:
    March 26, 2026 at 2:42 pm

    Thanks Michael, it was a great afternoon to be there

    Reply

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