Newgale Marsh - Hen Harrier

The Marsh has drained a little from yesterday but is still well-flooded. On arriving at around 1300 hrs, all that could be seen were c30 mallard and several gulls. But then the mallard and a flock of 100+ teal lifted off in obvious panic, followed by flocks of snipe, totalling at least 300. The cause was a male hen harrier quartering the reed beds, with a distant sparrow hawk closing in from the rear of the Marsh. The harrier was frustrated in his attempts to snatch a snipe as they were too agile. The sparrow hawk disappeared into the trees on north side of the Marsh, making no attempt to hunt.