Marsh Harrier

We went to Strumpshaw Tree Fair, and of course we didn't leave empty handed, though we didn't spend as much as we might have.  The chain saw carver had sold all his medium sized hares, and although he had a small hare in production, he didn't have a finished one, and couldn't price the small one for us - it depends how long he takes working on it.  He is quite local - I think we might end up with at least one of his products!

Then we went on to Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve.  There, we saw a number of different birds and butterflies - but not a swallowtail (wrong time of year, the ones who overwintered have all laid eggs and died, and this year's babies are still caterpillars, and will not become butterflies until August).  But a marsh harrier posed in a tree for me for some time.

I was puzzled by the bird in extras.  At least one child there thought it was a snipe - but it doesn't have a long enough beak.  After some research, I discovered it was a juvenile moorhen.  which I find slightly strange, as the babies have the black feathers and the red beak (see second extra).