Western Marsh Harrier juvenile

This juvenile Marsh Harrier was flushed from the track near the Wellmarsh Hide but didn’t seem to be too worried by the presence of humans. It had one white and one orange wing tag both numbered 61. Further investigation determined that it was tagged as a nestling at Elmley on the 18th July this year, some seventeen days only before this photo was taken. It was one of a brood of five birds from a nest close to the track near the counter wall that runs between Elmley and Spitend.