Chew Valley Lake 17 Aug 2011.

An afternoon to early evening visit to the lake produced some welcome surprises.

Heron's Green Pool produced a few Green Sandpipers and a Redshank. Reed Warblers were seen at the foot of the reeds. Soon to be gone. Despite scanning, no Water Rail, or Spotted Crake were found. And 2 reported Whinchats couldn't be found.

Stratford Hide gave distant views of more Green Sands, a Common Sand, a Greenshank and a distant adult Black Tern, insecting, mid-lake.

A transitional (juv - 1w) Mediterranean Gull was picked up towards Herriot's. It eventually flew past the hide.

A migrant juvenile Marsh Harrier (not too common a bird here!) made a surprise appearance as it sailed past the hide. (See record shots.) And was seen well in flight. It eventually flew to the East Shore, where it landed on the mud. Finally it flew again over the hide and was lost in the direction of Moreton Bank.

At 1800 an adult Osprey appeared directly in front of the hide. During the next half hour or so, it continually tried to fish the Northern part of the lake. Always continually harassed by gulls. Eventually it plucked a large trout from the surface, and hurriedly took it across the lake to the North Shore. Here it landed behind a large tree stump on the mud to eat its prize. Here it stayed until we left. At great distance. A pair of Ravens came to investigate.

Not a bad afternoon's birding. And a slice of migration in action. Magic!