Marsh
harrier spotted at the top end of Larne Lough
April 18
2019
An
eagle-eyed bird watcher has spoken of his joy at glimpsing a bird of prey
rarely seen in Northern Ireland.
Cameron
Moore (68), from Whitehead, Co Antrim, spotted the majestic sight of a marsh
harrier in flight on the banks of Larne Lough on Sunday.
"I
stopped on Sunday morning and luckily managed to get a couple of photos,"
he said. "I noticed it had green wing tags which tells you it was from the
Norfolk area.
"There
is a chance of seeing one or two of them here at this time of year but it's
unusual to see one that came that far."
Mr Moore
said his fascination for bird watching began in school, earning him the
nickname 'birdman' from classmates.
According
to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the bird is the largest of
the harriers.
Usually
spotted flying low over reedbeds and grazing marshes, its wingspan (typically
115-130cm) is raised in a prominent and characteristic 'V' shape.
Although
only an occasional sight in Northern Ireland, it has become one of the great
success stories of conservation in Great Britain having once become extinct in
the UK.
Today
there are estimated to be around 400 breeding pairs in the UK, with most found
in eastern and south-east England and parts of Scotland.
Belfast
Telegraph
No comments:
Post a Comment