Marsh harriers breed in the county again
Aug 26 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
ANOTHER historic bird of prey hatching has taken place in Northumberland. The first confirmed breeding of marsh harriers in the county since the early 1880s occurred at Druridge Bay.
The four chicks fledged at Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s East Chevington reserve, a remarkable turnaround on what was once an opencast mining site.
The marsh harrier success comes not long after the success with ospreys, who have bred in Northumberland for the first time in more than 200 years.
The marsh harrier was once a widespread bird in the United Kingdom, but persecution severely reduced numbers in the late 19th century.
And the return of the birds to Northumberland is a boost for the restoration efforts at East Chevington.
Since the 1990s, the former opencast mining site has been transformed into a mosaic of wetland, woodland and rough grassland.
It also includes the biggest area of reed beds in the county, with 35 acres being planted on the 300-acre site, which is adjacent to Druridge Bay Country Park.
