Wintering bird arrival
The last month has seen the arrival at Steart of a few of our favourite wintering birds.
Firstly, short-eared owls have arrived back and are displaying excellently after only one sighting last winter. A hen harrier has been sighted regularly, roosting somewhere out on the saltmarsh. Two merlins have also arrived to Winter here, and can be seen flying low across the marshes.
Merlin
A long-tailed duck was found early on in November up towards the breach which made a great record as they usually Winter out to sea, predominantly off the East Coast.
Long-tailed duck
Finally the three juvenile spoonbills are still present out on Otterhampton Marsh. They have been here for over a month now and we are hoping they will spend the rest of the winter here.
Images and article - Sam Wall, Reserve Warden
