THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
THE BIRDS OF SOUTH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
MARSH HARRIER – Circus aeruginosus
As with all reports of
rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective
rarities committees
Marsh Harrier, breeds widely across Europe and Asia, it is migratory except in the mildest regions, and winters mainly in Africa. It hunts small mammals, insects and birds, surprising them as it drifts low over fields and reed beds. The 'marsh' part of the birds name is self explanatory, however 'harrier' comes from the Middle English 'hairer' and 'eirer' and is possibly an alteration influenced by hair or hare. Or from the Old French word 'errier' meaning wanderer and from 'errer', to wander. Some historical names for Marsh Harrier include; Moor Buzzard, Bog Gled, Dun Pickle, White-headed Harpy and Puttock.
There have been sixteen Marsh Harrier's reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1983: (1)
A female was seen in flight heading north at Oldbury Power Station on May 1st.
1989: (1)
On May 21st a female was seen at New Passage heading north-east at 07:35.
1990: (2)
A female was seen on April 21st at New Passage heading north-east; One was seen on May 7th near Marshfield.
1994: (2)
A 1st summer female was located on May 1st at New Passage and was seen to drifted south; One, an adult female on May 13th was noted at Northwick Warth.
1995: (1)
On April 23rd a female was watched in flight heading south-west from Oldbury Power Station.
1996: (1)
A 1st summer male was found on April 23rd at Filton Airfield.
2001: (3)
A poorly marked female was seen on May 9th at Severn Beach; A well marked female was seen on May 10th also at Severn Beach; A juvenile was watched on August 29th at Northwick Warth heading south-west over New Passage.
2003: (2)
One on May 31st near Marshfield was a 2nd calendar female; On August 19th an adult female was noted near Marshfield.
2006: (1)
On April 22nd an adult female was lingering for just half an hour at Oldbury Power Station around mid-day.
Marsh Harrier at Oldbury Power Station. April 2006. © Paul Bowerman.
2007: (1)
On April 14th a female was seen in the morning flying up river past New Passage and subsequently past Aust Warth heading north.
2008: (2)
An immature male was reported at around 07:15 at Oldbury Power Station on April 5th in flight heading south; A female was seen in flight over Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station around 08:05 on May 3rd and was noted heading upriver;