Marsh Harrier and Starling Murmuration, RSPB Ham Wall

Marsh Harrier

Harrier over reeds
Hunting warrior in bronze
Feathered armour

Gold wings in late sun
Struck from Thor’s hammer, bright streak
Of talons and beak

Starling Murmuration

Front row gathering
We wait for the performance
A winter ballet

Dusk orchestrates them
A wild weaving chorus line
Dancing wings as one
 

Sky whale! Sky whale! Swan!
Starlings flow shapes across sky
Nature’s movie show

Ham Wall Haiku

These are from a recent trip to RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset, a beautiful reed-bed wetland.

 

Egret

The serene glide, low

Against the umber reed bank

Egret sails the wind

Woodpecker

Highest perch to hear

The wind pick up my holler!

Woodpecker’s beat poem

Mute Swan

This fine furled feather

Eloquently writes my frame

No swansong for me

 

Robin

A lone fisherman

Patient water margins wait

Red flag for dragonflies

Marsh Harrier

Bronzed sky warrior

Outstretched wings beat down clouds

Rain bringer arrives

******

Egret

'Mirror, mirror on

The floor, who has the longest

Neck of all. Why me!'