marsh harrier
Circus aeruginosus

Large harrier often seen over the reedbeds of East Anglia

Habitat: freshwater marshes, reedbeds, moors, heaths and estuaries

Widespread but patchily distributed summer migrant; some birds remain all year

Male has brown upperparts with pale buff head, wings grey with black wingtips; female is dark brown with golden-yellow head

Perches openly, flies low over reedbeds and marshes in search of food; flies with wings in a V-shaped profile

Eats birds, carrion, eggs and small mammals

Nest is a platform of twigs and reeds often in large reedbed

1 Brood April to May; 4-5 eggs blue-white