ONE
of the UK’s rarest birds of prey has returned to a Hampshire nature reserve for
the first time in 45 years.
A
pair of marsh harriers have bred at Titchfield Haven nature reserve having
raised two chicks in reed beds there for the first time since it was
established in 1972.
The
pair have gradually been spending more time at the reserve near Fareham and were first spotted in early
April when they were seen performing sky-dancing manoeuvres as they courted,
before beginning to collect sticks for their nest.
Finally
on an early, misty morning in late June, two newly fledged young were seen
leaving the nest and taking to the skies before becoming fully independent
several weeks later.
Rangers
have said that the parents have now left, but the young can still be seen and
are likely to stay for a few more weeks before migrating to Europe or North
Africa for the winter and then returning to Titchfield early next spring.
Marsh
Harriers were once widespread, but by the end of the 19th century, habitat loss
and persecution had wiped them out.
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