Marsh Harrier #16

Our first visit of the year to Woolston Eyes and it was very cold. By the time we got back in the car two and a half hours later we were both frozen with the temperature still hovering just above zero. 
But it was a successful visit being that we managed to catch up with the brambling that had been seen there. When we checked the sightings board in the main hide we were amazed to see that 90+ bramblings had been seen as recently as last week, so were a bit miffed to only come across a single individual that was not at all cooperative when it came to getting his photograph taken! But at least we've seen one :) 
The sighting of the morning was this Marsh Harrier that has been roosting in the area for a while apparently - wing tagged Black on Orange JP. On investigation, it is a male juvenile and was tagged near Boughton, Stoke Ferry in Norfolk last June and has been in our area since November, being seen on Frodsham Marshes and Woolston eyes since then. 
Overall we saw 32 different species today, bringing this years total so far to 96.  A few more days out this week and we might make 100 before the end of the month if we are lucky.