Sky Dancers - Marsh Harriers at Willow Tree Fen

A few weeks ago, I had one of those wildlife encounters that really sticks with you. I was at Willow Tree Fen, a fantastic Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve, enjoying a morning visit with my friend Matt (who volunteers on site), when a stunning adult male Marsh Harrier gave us several incredibly close fly-pasts.

It’s always a privilege to get good views of a Marsh Harrier, but this one seemed especially showy—crisp plumage glowing in the low sun, its flight slow and deliberate. What made it even more special was the aerial display going on above us: several males were sky dancing—a classic Marsh Harrier courtship behaviour, where they climb high before diving dramatically in a series of twists and turns.

There’s something magical about watching these birds over the open fenland landscape. And every time I see one, I’m taken back to childhood weekends at the end of the River Welland, scanning the skies with my Dad and my late Grandad, hoping to catch even the briefest glimpse. Back then, Marsh Harriers were a real rarity. Now, to be watching multiple birds displaying with a mate and a camera in hand—it’s something I never take for granted.

This encounter was one of those moments where everything just lined up: great light, great company, and a bird that’s meant so much to me over the years.

If you’ve enjoyed this story, or if my photos resonate with you, do check out my photo cards and wildlife artwork—available now on my Etsy shop (link above). It’s another way I get to share these beautiful encounters with you.