The Lincolnshire Bird Club
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Montagu's harriers at Digby Fen, nr Billinghay
http://www.lbcarchive.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5787		 Page 1 of 4
Author:  Paul French [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Montagu's harriers at Digby Fen, nr Billinghay
Hi all

Just as an update on the situation with the Monties at Digby Fen, this is a rough summary of the weekends sightings so far.

On Saturday (23 June), the male brought prey to the nest eight times between 8am-8pm, with five of these visits resulting in a spectacular food pass to the female. Both adults were seen hunting over the fen in front of the viewpoint, with the female collecting additional nesting material and taking it back to the nest on a couple of occasions. The male was seen hunting around the viewpoint on and off throughout the day. There is also a pair of kestrels in a box in front of the viewpoint, and the interactions between the Monties and the kestrels can be very interesting. At one point, there was talon grappling between the female Monties and female kestrel!

So far today (24 June), its been a little bit quieter, presumably due to the weather. However, we've still been treated to a couple of food passes (up to 1pm anyway) and good views of both birds hunting.

For more details, please visit

http://www.rspb.org.uk/brilliant/sites/montagusharrier/

where you will find detailed directions and a link to a multimap window. There are good car parking facilities on site, plus toilets and refreshments.

We're asking for a donation of £2 per vehicle for car parking, and if any of you are not RSPB members, this is as good a time as any to rectify this...:wink:

I'll be posting regular updates on the harriers here, so watch this space.

Cheers,

Paul.
Author:  Graham Catley [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
thought I recognised that image of a male Monty's on the link site---pity the acknowledgement is in such small print at the very bottom!

2 food passes in an hour mid afternoon today with the female off the nest for long periods---hope they survive tomorrows threatened onslaught
Author:  blgp_birder [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
If your talking about the weather Graham tuesday looks even worse... 30mph winds and rain.. 15 celsius. Not classic mid-summer weather. Actually it probably is considering Wimbledon is just around the corner.
Author:  Paul French [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Monday 25 June (am only)

Quite a bit of activity from the female this morning. After the downpour, she took advantage of a dry spell mid-morning to have a bit of a soar, and gave excellent views from the viewpoint. The male brought prey into the nest on two or three occasions, and a couple of food passes were seen.

The barn owls were out in force once again, with birds hunting along the roadside and over the fen.

Cheers,

PF.
Author:  Graham Catley [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
up here it has been pouring down for 19 hours now and is still torrential and I doubt any harriers will have survived---all roads flooded up to 3 foot deep---on my way home form work 3 Swallows vainly beating over a flooded wheat field in increasing northerly winds--this could even kill adult birds if it persists for much longer----
Author:  blgp_birder [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
thats amazing Graham - we have had a dry and sunny day down here in the south of the county! Nasty weather hit about 21:00.
Author:  Paul French [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Tuesday 26 June

Just to give a quick update, the Monts have had at least one food pass this morning, so hopefully the chicks are still alive and well. All the signs are ok so far that they have survived the downpour.

Cheers,

PF
Author:  Paul French [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wednesday 27 June

I was there from 1030-1400, and it was probably the most activity i've seen from the Monts. The female was often up and about collecting nest material, presumably building the nest up to get it out of the way of any water, while the male was bringing in food regularly to the nest. I saw at least two food passes and he also took prey straight to the nest on occasion. Views were excellent this morning, and the local marsh harriers were also indulging in some food passes.

Cheers,

PF
Author:  Roy Harvey [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the updates Paul - appreciated.

Roy.
Author:  Graham Hardy [ Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:11 am ]
Post subject: 
The male Montagu's Harrier showed well late afternoon.

Graham Hardy
Author:  John Badley [ Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
Please note the Montagu's viewpoint is CLOSED and locked (for reasons of security) after 7pm on weekdays and after 8pm on weekends. We would be grateful if birders would not visit the viewpoint outside of 9-7 weekdays and 8-8 on weekends/public holidays to prevent disturbance to the birds, ensure the road margins are maintained (LCC Highways request) and to ensure people are safe, since the road through the fen is narrow, but fast.

We would be very grateful if people would respect this request, as it will assist the successful nesting of this pair and influence decisions on whether we can set up Montagu's harrier viewpoints in future.

The birds have been very active recently. Yesterday for example they showed for most of the morning. The female is now becoming more independant from the nest and has started to make the occasional hunting trip of her own. The interaction with a nearby pair of nesting kestrels also makes for great viewing.

Many thanks,

JB
Author:  John Badley [ Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Check out BBC Look North evening news tonight from 6.30pm. The Monts should be making an appearance...

JB
Author:  Roy Harvey [ Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
A shame that the BBC had to use so much library footage of Monty's on the wing rather than film of the actual birds.

Roy.
Author:  Paul French [ Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:01 am ]
Post subject: 
Some new (poor!) photos of the Mont's are in the album.

Yesterday was a good day for sightings, although the male had a bit of a lazy day and put in erratic appearnces although several food passes were seen. The female was up and about hunting and collecting nest material at regular intervals.

The kestrels nesting in the box infront of the viewpoint have at least two chicks on the verge of fledging. One of them actually came out of the box and made about 50 yards before crashing into the beet field! I presume it made it back, as there were then two chicks sat on the box later in the day looking around them with great interest. The adults were very nervous, and gave the female Monts lots of stick on several occasions.

The Monties in turn gave chase to one of the local male marsh harriers on a couple of occasions, which was pretty spectacular to watch.

Cheers,

PF.
Author:  Alan Ball [ Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Just for interest - the Kestrel box here has some interesting history. It is one of several put up by the Witham First Internal Drainage Board around their area based on our advice. This year the Kestrel was found to be sitting on 9 eggs ! - five of its own and four Mallard eggs. (It would be interesting to see how a Mallard gets in via a 6" x 6" entrance! ) The Mallard eggs were removed so that the Kestrel eggs could be properly incubated and it was encouraging to find three healthy chicks at a subsequent inspection.

Last year, the first season following its erection, the box was used by Barn Owl, Kestrel and Stock Dove. It is nice to have a pair of Montys join us this year - who said Lincolnshire wheat fields are devoid of birds?

Alan
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