03-08-2025
Birdwatchers spot rare bird of prey over the skies of the North East
Nature lovers and conservationists were treated to a rare and exhilarating sight as a marsh harrier, one of the UK's rarest and most striking birds of prey, was spotted.
With its wings held in a distinctive V-shape, the Harrier wheeled and soared over the industrial skyline at Seal Sands in Teesside over the last month.
The marsh harrier is the largest of the UK's harrier species and is best known for its broad wingspan (up to 1.2 metres) and graceful, floating flight over reedbeds and marshlands.
A Marsh Harrier (Image: PAT BLEWITT) Sightings in the North East remain relatively uncommon, making this recent appearance all the more thrilling for birdwatchers.
Photographed by members of the Northern Echo Camera Club, including Chrissy Turner, Steve Raine, and now Pat Blewitt, the bird's appearance has ignited excitement among local wildlife communities.
The marsh harrier's return to UK skies is nothing short of a conservation success story. In 1971, only one breeding female remained in the entire country, after decades of persecution and the destruction of vital wetland habitats.
A Marsh Harrier in the North East (Image: PAT BLEWITT) Since then, thanks to intensive habitat restoration, legal protection, and the dedication of conservation groups, the species has rebounded.
Today, over 500 breeding pairs are spread across the UK—mainly in East Anglia, Somerset, parts of Scotland, and now occasionally the North East.
Though it is listed as Amber on the UK's Birds of Conservation Concern and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, sightings in the North East suggest the species is slowly expanding its range.
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Although historically rare in the Northeast, marsh harrier sightings have become more frequent in recent years. This summer's confirmed sighting at Seal Sands, an estuarine wetland near the River Tees
It's also worth noting that an increasing number of marsh harriers now overwinter in the UK, defying their traditional migratory pattern to Africa. This shift hints at the changing climate and evolving habitat conditions.
The marsh harrier's dramatic comeback is more than a conservation win—it's a reminder that nature can recover when given space, time, and protection.
