Harrier Fest

Lucky days with the harriers continued today, with a visit to Roydon Common. It was virtually birdless, just a few meadow pipits, a hovering kestrel and the usual corvids until a fine ringtail harrier appeared briefly over the main bog. We carried on walking up to the military tower and then retraced our steps. The ringtail reappeared and then a superb pale grey male bird, standing out nicely against the trees behind, quartered to and fro, flushing a 2nd ringtail in the process. Then, just as it was too dark to see properly - that'll be about 4.15pm then! - a pale raptor with long blunt wings appeared briefly in the distance, probably a short-eared owl. Great afternoon walk!