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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Marsh Harrier - circus aeruginosus

 

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 twenty-nine Marsh Harrier's reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2011: (1) EARLIEST

A female was seen in flight over Littleton-upon-Severn at 14:00 on January 30th.

 

2010: (6)

A 2nd summer male was seen at Severn Beach on April 11th in the evening; One was seen flying north over the Second Severn Crossing at Severn Beach early morning on April 16th; A Cream crowned bird flew east from Severn Beach at 12:35 after initially being watched flying up the estuary from the south-west on May 4th; A 2nd summer male was seen over Oldbury Yacht Club towards Littleton-upon-Severn at 09:10 on August 15th; A female, was seen at Aust Warth on October 12th at 16:40; An adult male was seen a little way inland at Shepperdine on December 1st.

 

 

1st summer male Marsh Harrier at Severn Beach. April 2010. Paul Bowerman.

 

2009: (3)

A female flew low south over Northwick Warth on April 13th; Another female was at Severn Beach at 10:00 then flew north-east towards New Passage on April 15th; One was noted in fields between New Passage and Severn Beach at 15:30 on November 20th.

 

2008: (4)

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; A male was seen in the Shire Valley near Marshfield at ST: 795 759 on September 15th; One, a probable male was seen in flight at Oldbury Power Station over the R. Severn being mobbed by gulls before drifting over Lagoon III then off towards the south on December 6th.

 

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.

 

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.

 

2003: (2)

One on May 31st near Marshfield was a 2nd calendar female; On August 19th an adult female was noted near Marshfield.

 

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.

 

1996: (1)

A 1st summer male was found on April 23rd at Filton Airfield.

 

1995: (1)

On April 23rd a female was watched in flight heading south-west from Oldbury Power Station.

 

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.

 

1990: (2)

A female was seen on April 21st at New Passage heading north-east; One was seen on May 7th near Marshfield.

 

1989: (1)

On May 21st a female was seen at New Passage heading north-east at 07:35.

 

1983: (1)

A female was seen in flight heading north at Oldbury Power Station on May 1st. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species for S. Gloucestershire.

 

©TBOSG November 2005 - All rights reserved