HARRIERS OVER THE MARSHES... (My new poem about seeing a pair of marsh harriers at Blakeney, Norfolk...)

 Harriers Over The Marshes…

I’d never seen a marsh harrier hunting prey,

Or patrolling its territory but believed that

A visit to the marshlands of Salthouse and Cley

In Norfolk might provide a sighting. 

Despite the proliferation of waders on the day 

And ducks, plus a frenzy of gulls and divers in a spat

Over fish out to sea, no marsh harrier was seen to fly,

Until later that day at Blakeney in poor evening lighting.

 At the setting of an autumn sun, a white-tailed male flew past low,

Landward and soon amongst the marsh grass smoothly fell. 

Its white tail fanned out as it turned to alight,

Pale grey on wings contrasting against a body of brown…

Then early the next day a female, larger and darker brown but aglow

From the redness of a cloudy sunrise, traced a similar route, its spell

Captivating as it banked in an effortless, searing flight,

With cream head flashing as it eased its powerful body down…

Pete Ray

26th September 2023…

No sightings at Cley (pronounced ‘Cly’) on 25th September but a male marsh harrier flew parallel with Blakeney’s causeway towards the village as dusk gathered.

The follow morning I was treated to a flight of a female, larger and duller than the male and lacking the white tail…

Brilliant…