5th Nov - dull, mist cloud first thing, becomimh sunny and warm, 14C, light SSE

Stanford reservoir; another attempt this afternoon to find and see the Hen Harrier.
There were plenty of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on the fallow fields which I thought may attract it. Getting to the same viewpoint as yesterday it was a question of waiting and looking.  There were several Buzzards about, some on the arable fields after worms.  There are two notable ones, one with a lot of white on the upper tail reminiscent of a Rough-legged Buzzard and another with a white rump area and under tail coverts which can look a little like a Harrier. So, these provided some distraction, also 3 Kestrels hunting (2 males and a female).

After a considerable while I noticed a bird behind me being chased by Corvids, it flew passed and above me, yes the Hen Harrier, it continued for a short distance before dropping down over the arable field, then across and over a tall hedgerow and lost from sight.  A good but all to brief view, it clearly is ranging over a considerable area.

Other notable birds included the drake Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret and 12 Little Egret.
A Starling roost has formed again at the main reed bed, 2000-3000 birds this evening.