Raven vs Hare

An unusual observation this evening in the form of a raven actively chasing a hare on the saltmarsh. The hare would run short zig-zags then the raven would hop/fly toward it and try and hack at it only for the hare to leg it again. This went on for some time until the hare took cover and the raven got bored and flew off. All the while a group of 5 carrion crows watched on with mounting interest. It was like something from Aesop's fables..!
Otherwise it was the same old stuff really - the 3 green sandpipers were still on the Wildfowlers' Pools along with 4 snipe. Another 4 snipe were on The Flood.
Little grebes were on Darter Pool and Freeman's Pool.

Green sandpipers remain

Arrived at Aldcliffe after a thorough drenching just in time for a clear, warm 30 minute window. At Freeman's Pools an adult little grebe was 'new' in, otherwise all was quiet there.
The juv little grebe was still on Darter Pool alongside the usual suspects.
The Wildfowlers' Pools held the 3 green sandpipers in-residence plus 8 snipe and a lone female/eclipse teal - tried to string it as a garganey but it was, frankly, nothing like one. A sparrowhawk was ruffling a few feathers around the pools.

Monday early evening

1 green & 3 common sandpiper at Freeman's Pools, despite the hot weather having attracted a couple of the nearby Marsh Estate's lets say, more infamous brothers having clearly been enjoying a swim.
Soon a bunch of, admittedly relaxed and utterly non-destructive, teenagers arrived for a trample around the pools, successfully flushing everything in the process! Oh well...
Nearby, the Wildfowlers' Pools contained a further 2 green sandpipers and 5 snipe. 2 meadow pipit passed over.
The juv little grebe was again at Darter Pool (where a lone emperor was patrolling).

Morning glory

A cracking morning weather-wise (though one or two local birdie-purists may disagree!) and some interesting things around.
Just a single common sandpiper - no LRPs - at Freeman's Pools along with the oik pair with their well grown youngsters and the coot brood of 1 doing well.
3 little egrets were 'new-in' on the marsh and the greylag flock has built up to 292, with a further 12 coming in later from the north-east.
3 green sandpipers were on the Wildfowlers' Pools plus 2 snipe.

Insects were well represented with 2 emperor, 4 brown hawkers a handful of common darters and lots of damselflies.
Butterflies included comma, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, speckled wood, and so on..

Winds of change

The change in wind direction certainly had the desired effect with the result that there were a minimum of 3 green sandpipers at the Wildfowlers' Pools this evening.
Nearby the juv little grebe was on Darter Pool - with 2 Emperors there at last!!
A LR plover and 2 common sandpiper were at Freeman's Pools.
Then at 6.40pm I noticed a medium sized raptor coming over the trig-point hill (from the direction of Fairfield) - it soon revealed itself to be a marsh harrier. It drifted low over me and started hunting over the maize fields. It appeared to be a juv, or a very dark female, with no pale edges to the forewings. Only my second at Aldcliffe in 20 years of birding there!