Harrier Harrassing!

A short day to conclude our birding tour, under grey skies, and with only distant views--though fine with the various scopes in the group. The most intriguing sight was this Marsh Harrier (a female, I think) which repeatedly flew down at a coot (fulica atra), which dove each time--here you see the splash. The harrier did this at least a dozen times (we didn't count but I started taking shots only after it had done it at least 6 or 8 times, and I captured a good five passes). None of our group had ever seen this. The large view is more vivid.

A small bonus in this shot is a Black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) on the right (in North America it's called the eared grebe); it's in winter plumage, which is much drabber than breeding plumage (as here on my website).

Yesterday I managed a much closer view of a Marsh Harrier. Tonight an excellent supper of tapas in Seville.