A few Mallard and Teal were standing on the ice but soon departed once the Marsh Harriers started quartering the reedbed. The less well marked bird followed the reeds right to the far, west, end and then disappeared only to re-appear from the east end of the Corse later on - perhaps hunting along the top, north, side of the Corse before circling back around. The more well marked bird, pictured, stayed pretty much over the middle section of the reedbed. I flushed 3 Water Rails from a ditch and the Harriers kept the Snipe on the move - must have seen a hundred or more altogether.
From quite near Starmans Hall I saw a Short-eared Owl quartering the dunes on the north side of the Corse towards the beach end.
Over at Kilpaison at high tide the bay was mirror like in the sunshine - what a wonderful morning! Out in the bay there were 32 Brents and 700+ Wigeon. On the shore line 70 Dunlin, 13 Ringed Plover, 23 Oystercatcher, 4 Redshank.
P.S. Whilst waiting for the Barn Owl at Mullock Bridge yesterday a ringtail Hen Harrier flew over the marsh around 4 p.m. and a Male Hen Harrier was seen earlier.