Highland Foundation for Wildlife

Marsh Harrier Migration 2006

Marsh Harrier Satellite Tracking
Project 2006
Tracking two chicks from different nests

Bird 21197 and Bird 21251
click on individual birds at left
to follow their migrations.

One was tracked to Poole Harbour in Dorset and the other to Ayrshire and Newton Mearns; sadly both died or were probably killed illegally.

             Thank You

The satellite transmitters have been funded by the Tayside Biodiversity Fund;
 this project could not have been undertaken without this vital financial support;
with additional funding from Tay Raptor Study Group, Fife Bird Club and Coralshore, Ltd.

                  www.taysidebiodiversity.co.uk

In early July members of the Tay Ringing Group working with Roy Dennis of the Highland Wildlife Foundation fitted satellite radios to two young Marsh Harriers hatched in the Tay reedbeds.

Wing-tag sightings

Steve has received the following emails of wing tagged marsh harriers this autumn.

A juvenile marsh harrier from the Tay with green wing tag at Inch Lake, Co Donegal on Saturday 9th September along with this photo of it.

Matt Tickner reported a similar tagged marsh harrier, probably the same bird, at Loch Swilly, Co Donegal on 16th September.

In Scotland, Scott Paterson, RSPB warden at Loch of Strathbeg reports two tagged marsh harriers there in first half of September; one a green tagged juvenile and the other a blue tagged adult female harched on the Tay in 2000.

Marsh Harriers on the Tay in 2006

Steve Moyes and Harry Bell

The number of breeding marsh harriers increased markedly on the Tay estuary area during the 2006 breeding season with a total of seven pairs nesting in the area. Of these six nests were successful, fledging a total of 18 chicks. The seventh nest failed for the third time in five years almost certainly due to disturbance at the nest site by birdwatchers. The matter has been reported to Tayside Police who have stated their intention to check on the site regularly in future years. Marsh harriers are extremely prone to human disturbance at the nest site and some females will not return to the nest if there is anyone within 400 metres.   We would remind everyone that you could be prosecuted for disturbing any Schedule 1 bird without the appropriate disturbance licence.

All 18 chicks were ringed in 2006 and 14 were fitted with a single light green tag on the left wing. Two chicks were not tagged due to the difficulty of access to the nest site and the other two chick had the satellite tags fitted. Should anyone see any tagged marsh harrier,  I would be interested to receive details of the sighting, please include as much information as possible including the bird’s activity at the time of the sighting.

Email: steve.moyes@talk21.com