The solstice is the true midwinter and I got a couple of hours out to enjoy one of my favourite winter rituals - a Hen Harrier roost. The Wicken Fen roost is a joy in the gloaming and in some years there can be as many as seven joining the Marsh Harriers to find a nights rest as far away from the predation risk of Fox as possible. In the past there was a romance to ascending the creaking stairs of the thatched Tower Hide and peaking out across the sedge and reed.
The past couple of years, to reduce footfall along the soggy peat, the path to the Tower Hide has been closed and a temporary viewing platform has been constructed. This gives a great vista across the fen and being an open platform a sense of space (pic care of National Trust)
The Harriers came in early and after a brief survey of the area a beautiful, ghostly male Hen Harrier dropped into the reeds in front of the platform and, being a still evening, I was not surprised that it didn't take wing again. Later a ringtail put on a show but the light was failing, now thankfully to be strengthening daily from here on until midsummer. Ade Long provided chat, tales and plans of observatory trips to Cape Clear and beyond and as we reached the car park two Woodcock hurtled over us intent on finding a place to feed in the dark.
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