There are no natural predators for pallid harriers, and as a bird of prey they are powerful enough and large enough to defend their nests and themselves from most creatures in their range, however opportunists may occasionally stumble across unguarded eggs in rare circumstances and find an easy meal.However this is very rare as females are diligent mothers who incubate exclusively and only leave the eggs in extreme scenarios. It also, winters in Kuwait in small numbers. In 2019, the species also bred in Spain for the first time . The sightings of pallid harrier didn't finish at NADEC. Pallid Harrier breeds in Spain for first time. Recentmently, the population of Western Russia has expanded towards Scandinavia, with a small contingent now found in Finland, leading to a new migratory route through Western Europe with wintering grounds in the Iberian peninsula and Morocco. Comprehensive life histories for all bird species and families. But it is thought that better camera equipment could be helping birders to distinguish them and realise that pallid harriers are more frequent visitors to Britain than previously thought. In case the facial disc is a bit coloured, it doesnt emphasize so much. The UK's farmland birds have declined by 55% since 1970. on tuesday the 26th of april i was very fortunate to spot the first ever sighting in northern ireland of a pallid harrier (female) this has been confirmed on ni birding, irish birding, and ni birds, I understand this is an old thread, but want to reply anyway, Marsh Harrier? I could easily see the striking head pattern, in particular a really obvious pale collar, he said. Car Park Wheatear 1 male Chiffchaff 3 Blackcap 1 The Rushy Lesser Scaup 1 House Martin 1 (First of the year) Sand Martin 5 South Lake Swallow 2 Sand Martin 20+ Willow Warbler 1 Black-tailed Godwit 127 Ruiff 2 Redshank 7 Avocet 2 In this guide were going to highlight some of the key information you need to know about these birds, and well be touching on everything from their appearance to their hunting behavior, mating, nesting, as well as their diet, habitat, migration routes, lifespan, natural predators and their conservation status to make sure you have everything you need to know and can spot them as soon as you have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of these amazing birds.Lets get started with their appearance so you know exactly what to look for when youre out spotting. Its in these cases when recognition tends to be very complicated, and we have to attend other features such as wing design and structure. Its fantastic to think that we could have seen our first pallid harrier in Lancashire, if not the first in the North-west.. They have a grace, elegance, and aerial manoeuvrability rare even in the world of raptors. Redshank 7 This majestic bird has a wide range over a large part of Europe and Asia and has many distinctive features from their coloring to their behavior and migration patterns. Here in Somerset we regularly see marsh harriers, and during the winter the occasional hen harrier drops in too. On four occasions we drove ahead of them, stopped the car for them to catch up and tried to take pictures. In flight, a bit bulkier than Montagus but much more buoyant than Hen Harrier. Amazing close views from the car - it flew right in front of us! On Sunday he spotted a second. Like most harrier species, there are distinct color differences between males and females. Sure enough when I looked in the book it was clearly a male Pallid Harrier that we had just been watching. Publish date: 29/07/2019. At 16.15 yesterday afternoon both Martin and I were working in the 100 Acre replacing a gate. hopefully i can attach pics to this if not they are in gallery. on tuesday the 26th of april i was very fortunate to spot the first ever sighting in northern ireland of a pallid harrier (female) this has been confirmed on ni birding, irish birding, and ni birds, i was with a friend and had actually been tipped of about the whereabouts of a male hen harrier and were actually looking for them and took pics of MH: the immense majority tend to display fully dark tips of fingers, and this dark blurs throughout the feather; well hardly ever observe a restricted and abrupt design such as classic PHs. Then, in mid-July, four juveniles fledged the nest. In Cardiff. The underside of the female is a lighter brown of buff color with streaks through it. They're declining in their breeding range (now classed as Near Threatened) so chances of them spreading and colonising W Europe are pretty low. Find out more about the partnership, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. The highest single-site count of Pallid Harriers on migration in France was made on 28 March 2020, when 13 different individuals were counted on the move at Prunete, Corsica. Update. However, it could be wider and resembling to MH. A resource for Birders, Twitchers and casual Bird Watchers. Pallid Harriers are a very rare passage migrant to the UK they winter in Africa and breed in areas like Kazakhstan. These birds have an incredibly wide range due to their migration patterns and cover a large area at different times of the year. I knew this was a race against the clock: would I manage to see the bird before the children got bored? SC037654, Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience, These cookies are required for basic web functions, Allow us to collect anonymised performance data. Yes, these birds migrate and travel considerable distances to escape the chill of the winter in their eastern european breeding grounds. It is believed that the lifespan of the pallid harrier is somewhere around 13 to 14 years, and its possible that they could live longer in captivity depending on their care and diet as well as the suitability of the habitat and climate. 11. Pallid harrier in Little Rann of Kutch This is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. Dutch Birding 7: 41-54. 25 years after the MMR vaccine autism fraud, we're still dealing with the consequences, Parents jailed for manslaughter of daughter left to die in bedroom 'unfit for any animal', Stop blindly believing or dismissing the Covid lab-leak theory - focus on the evidence, Remains of baby found in wooded area after search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon's child, Oxford and Cambridge ban ChatGPT over plagiarism fears but other universities embrace AI bot, Waspi legal action over state pension age 'a waste', says expert as it continues to raise cash, UK could mass vaccinate chickens to prevent bird flu spreading between humans, The Witch Trials of JK Rowling makes sensible points. Pallid harriers are slightly smaller than buzzard and are white below with black wingtips. Males typically are white or grey on the upper side and white on the underside of the bodies, with thin black wingtip feathers at the extremity of both their wings.Females are brown on the upper side and have white plumage in their tails beneath the main tail feathers, which is what gives the females the nickname ringtails. Pallid harriers are very mobile birds, and having travelled thousands of miles to be here, this one was no exception. Previously considered a national rarity and thus requiring a submission to the French rarities committee, the rarity tag was removed in 2013 following an upturn in records. Presumed Pallid Harrier. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK. Unlike a lot of birds of prey, the nest of the pallid harrier is situated on the ground instead of high up in the trees, which is a unique feature of this species and speaks to their preference for hunting and living in open grassy areas. I automatically assumed it was a Hen Harrier as one had been seen near by a few days before, and we are in Gloucestershire not Cyprus. In addition to this newsa mixed pair of harriers, consisting of a male Pallid and female Montagu's, has also succeeded in reproducing for the first time in France. But this autumn has seen a veritable influx of this stunning bird, with records from Fair Isle in the north to Sussex in the south. It also had a small white rump with a faint barred tail. Avocet 2 All Rights Reserved. arriers are very special birds. Pallid Harrier: evolution of female plumage, Juveniles: Pallid Harrier vs Montagus Harrier, Raptor Identification - The complete raptors guide. Rare birds usually turn up when you are too busy to go and see them one of the reasons why I gave up twitching 20 years ago. The incubation period is usually around 28 to 30 days and the eggs are incubated exclusively by the female unlike other birds of prey who share the responsibility for incubating and hunting. Ruiff 2 Previously considered an extreme rarity, it is now an expected annual vagrant that has a habit of appearing in all seasons. Your email address will not be published. They have a grace, elegance, and aerial manoeuvrability rare even in the world of raptors. PH: the clear collar is wide and neat, clearly outlining the dark cheeks. Birdwatch285: 45-52. Golden Eagles spotted Crawleyside/Stanhope Moor Durham? Alan Wright from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: Pallid harriers have been difficult to distinguish from the Montagus harrier in the past and it could be that digital photography is now helping people to distinguish them more easily. To make things trickier, I had my three young children in tow. Chiffchaff 3 PH: the majority tends to have a thin eyebrow, not really highlighted. But there have been a number of British sightings in recent month from Shetland to Sussex. Juveniles are rufous and similar to Montagus, but appear dark rather than pale faced. With a juvenile Pallid Harrier being spotted yesterday where I was the day before (just my luck) it got me thinking do they breed in this country? MH: classic birds draw two or three grey stripes at secondary darks, being these thicker alike. The pair nested in Marne departement, to the east of Paris, and fledged four young. Theres a Robin in our garden that only flies around very low and doesnt really fly off, in fact appears to prefer hopping around secretively amongst larger plants, which makes a sort of wheezing, panting A fantail pigeon is sitting on my fence. PH: the dark boa around the neck is densely dark, but it usually loses such uniformity with erosion, and theres even those which show it striated with a new plumage. Found in steppes, wet grassland, agricultural areas and other open spaces. The status of Pallid Harrierhas rapidly changed in France in recent years. This particularly showy individual has been watched travelling the length of the reserve, coming past all of the hides, at times right in front of them. Blackcap 2, Avocet 1 The harrier will glide low over open ground and drift slowly, diving and surprising prey once theyve identified it, making them very effective stealth and surprise hunters. Our attention was drawn by a Herring Gull yelping and chasing a raptor across the Bull Ground behind us. But Martin was constantly shouting out while he was watching the bird that it lacked a dark trailing edge to the wing, and that it had only a small amount of black on the wing tip. , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, 2nd calendar year male , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus adult female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, adult male , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, adult female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus adult female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus older female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus young female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, older female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, young female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, 1st autumn female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, old female , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, full adult male , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, 1st autumn (juvenile) male , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, 1st autumn male . We have two Dewlap Toulouse geese, male and female. I was just happy that I had seen this rare wanderer at all. No wonder that, when the RAF needed a name for their most aerobatic aircraft, they called it the Harrier jump jet. . The appearance of this bird is very distinctive and noticeable and the first thing youll note when they are in flight is that their wings are long, and are held in a shallow V shape while in slow flight low to the ground, to help with maneuverability and to make their gliding more controlled and slower, which helps them spot prey more easily in the open ground they primarily hunt in. Escapee: Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. I personally have only seen Pallid Harrier once before, last autumn in La Janda in Cadiz province, and it was a second year male so there was no debate about it. However, there are individuals who again resemble to PH, especially females, which cause confusion. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. E.g. Since the discovery of regular breeding of Pallid Harriers in Finland in 2011, the number of sightingshas markedly increased right acrossEurope. To filter/search please enter a phrase. 8. Pallid Harrier - Lancashire Jon Worthington, Pallid Harrier - Shetland Rebecca Nason. He also kept saying about the shape of the black on the under wing looked like a Pallid Harrier. Very unusually, a juv spent the 2015-2016 winter in Norfolk. * Bird News Pro and Bird News Ultimate subscribers receive full sighting details. You are using an out of date browser. Junction of Priory Ave/Grange Park, Bristol, England. All Rights Reserved. It also, winters in Kuwait in small numbers. Include your email address in case we need to clarify details. I then put out news that we had just seen a Hen Harrier. Since the discovery of regular breeding Pallid Harriers in Finland in 2011, the number of sightings of the species migrating through Spain has markedly increased. But the fourth British species, the pallid harrier, is so rare that only a score or so have ever turned up here, wanderers from their breeding grounds on the remote Russian steppes. DE BROYER A. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. Sjour dun hybride de Busard ple Circus macrourus x Saint-Martin Circus cyaneus en Fagne durant lhiver 2011-2012. The nesting habits of this bird are interesting as the nest is often made up of a pile of grass which will be hidden within or under various plants and vegetation, and are often located near or in meadows, scrubland or swampy areas where vegetation is most plentiful. The Pallid Harrier is very common during migration in Autumn and Spring. Still a wonderful sight. The primary prey of the pallid harrier is insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, worms and flies, however the bird is also capable of hunting small birds such as larks as well as small mammals that live in grassy areas such as mice, voles, rats and even lizards in some habitats. Illustration: George Boorujy. 10. Do I just leave it alone or does it need anything. Yellow-browed Warbler. (28693256) Rod Ferbrache, a birdwatcher for 25 years, recorded the first pallid harrier seen in Guernsey last year on 9 September. As well as in France, 2020 has produced the first breeding record for the Czech Republic. Since the discovery of regular breeding of Pallid Harriers in Finland in 2011, the number of sightings has markedly increased right across Europe. Click Submit to share your rare bird sightings via our simple form. Juvenile birds start their first moult in spring of 2cy, followed by a parcial moult (affecting some body and facial feathers and less extensive thanMontagus harrier)on the wintering grounds. Aberdeenshire, Scotland 18.6.22. on tuesday the 26th of april i was very fortunate to spot the first ever sighting in northern ireland of a pallid harrier (female) this has been confirmed on ni birding, irish birding, and ni birds, i was with a friend and had actually been tipped of about the whereabouts of a male hen harrier and were actually looking for them and took pics of what we assumed was a female hen harrier but when we posted pics to these other sights we were quickly informed that these pics were of a female pallid and the first ever sighting in northern ireland and the second ever in ireland,so was actually delighted with this but also a bit dissapointed at not seeing male hen harrier. The pallid harrier breeds in Ukraine and Russia and spends most of the winter in Africa or India, and is a rare visitor to Western Europe. Males are ghostly gray above with black wingtip wedges. MH: the white spot is mostly big, with a rounded shape scarcely defined, and above all, spreading behind the eye and joining behind it with the eyebrow. We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy, The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/. Irish rare bird sighting records for the Island Of Ireland, including photos and fectured articles relating to Irish Birds. Although by the time Martin got his camera the bird was now distant, But the photographs show the distinctive under wing pattern. 19/4/21 1:21:09 PM . The first case of the species breeding in western Europe was noted as recently as 2017, when a pair raised four chicks in The Netherlands. Pallid Harriers are a very rare passage migrant to the UK they winter in Africa and breed in areas like Kazakhstan. They rarely show a similar extension to PH, this causing a severe confusion afterwards. All rights reserved. Annual complete moult between May-June and September-October. Show Details. Even though, there are some individuals, especially females, with wide dark stripes identical to PH. Wing: 310-355 mm, 345-390 mm. The male was discovered at the end of May and, over subsequent days, was watched conducting food passes with a female of the species. Image taken by Rod Ferbrache. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus , Male Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, young male , Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, 1st autumn male. MH: the boa is mostly striated and blurred, barely prominent. We only record sightings within the WVBS study area. Juveniles are rufous and similar to Montagu's, but appear dark rather than pale faced. . This is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. PH: the dark stripes at the primaries tend to be wider than in MH, even though its a varying fact, and it could even be the exactly the same in some individuals. Confirming the sighting of a bird is a bit of detective work and spending time reviewing what you have seen with a digital camera can be a big help. We revelled in our Twitter glory as we announced that we had just found a Pallid harrier on a sea watch in Scotland - not something very many birders can say. Although mixed pairs of these species have been regularly observed in France, they had never apparently produced fledged youngsters before now. That was enough for alarm bells to ring.. The pallid harrier breeds in Ukraine and Russia and spends most of the winter in. E: 100-120 cm. The call of the pallid harrier is a high pitched keek-keek-keek. Their wings are held in a distinctive V shape which makes identification while in flight easy when coupled with knowledge of their appearance and plumage. CLARK W.S. Blackcap 1, Lesser Scaup 1 male pallid harrier following route 90 east to west Circus macrourus L: 41-48 cm. Many of us are constantly on the look out for rarities when we're out and about birding. The female is obsessed with us and not the male. PH: the back dark stripe from the primaries tends to be soft, not really prominent, but its again varying, and many individuals display it in a Bird of Kuwait Sightings - Birdwatching Tours. PH: the facial disc is evenly dark and spread, from the nape to the basis of the lower mandible. Pallid Harrier by Martin McGill WWT 3rd April 2012. FORSMAN D. 1995. Provisional: Either: 1) member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2) rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible. From March to May and from August to November. This blog is an english language blog for people wishing to know about recent bird sightings in the region of Murcia, Spain, and in particular the Cartagena area. It's a tough question, as it could be argued that a rare bird is simply a lost bird, and so means little in the wider scheme of things. Males weigh 315 g (11.1 oz) while the slightly larger females weigh 445 g (15.7 oz). They are adapted for steady flight over low, open ground and are able to dive quickly to pin down and catch prey in grassy areas. In worn-out plumage, they are less even, more listed. Amazing close views from the car - it flew right in front of us! 2013. Other birds of interest included Red Kite, Hobby, Common Sandpiper and Redshank. It is now considered a rare migrant, with around 100 individuals seen in an average year, although there is strong inter-annual variation and the species is susceptible to large spring influxes. * Bird News Pro and Bird News Ultimate subscribers receive full sighting details. All Records (Accepted, Rejected, Pending). Highest daily count: 35 on 21/9/2004. highlighted way as in MH. PH: the secondary darks have a distinctive design in most birds, with one or two complete clearer stripes, even grey, being the outer one a bit wider. The first case of the speciesbreeding in western Europe was noted as recently as 2017, when a pair raised four chicks in The Netherlands. Take Merlin with you in the field! A nest was built in a wheat field in a largely agricultural landscape, in what is the closest French department to England. My last UK sighting was at RSPB Salthouse a couple of years ago. In flight, a bit bulkier than Montagu's but much more buoyant than Hen Harrier. 5. Scientific Name: Circus macrourus. We couldnt believe it when we saw it was chasing a stunning male grey Harrier at close range. Coordinators: Alex Oll, Teresa Montras & Joan Goy Taxonomy: Monotypic Status: Migratory. juvenile males have a distinguish yellow iris and some grey body feathers once the first moult (during spring 2cy) has started. Wonderful winter's birding in the East Midlands yesterday. In spring, the main flyway runs through the central part of the Mediterranean while in autumn, the route runs through the East of the Mediterranean region. All images are Copywritted 2023. But Martin was convinced that we had seen a Pallid, wait till you look in a book and see my photos he said. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals. The birds most commonly nest in single pairs but can nest in a larger but loose group of between 3 and 5 pairs which will dominate a territory. The pale collar is surprisingly obvious in the images (appeared as a wash of white on the rear-crown in the field) and is too broad for Pallid. Please login or subscribe to view this information. I consulted Dick Forsman for a second view and he replied after studying the image thus -: Pallid Harriers in Northwest Europe and the identification of presumed Pallid Harrier x Hen Harrier hybrids. The male usually spends time during incubation finding and bringing food for the female and hatchlings, while the female broods the hatchlings nearly continuously. My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/, My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/. On the way back on the same road we noticed two other males together following the road travelling at about 25 kilometres an hour. Through my binoculars I could see the long wings and tail, narrow white rump and, best of all, the deep orange shade of its underparts, glowing in the October sunshine. L: 41-48 cm. Birdwatchers are in a flutter after increased sightings of a bird of prey that is hardly ever seen in Britain. Bulletin British Ornithologists Club 118:52-54. 4. They're declining in their breeding range (now classed as Near Threatened) so chances of them spreading and colonising W Europe are pretty low. The bird was very pale grey almost white especially under parts with no real contrast on the face. After several minutes the harrier made it to the far end of our reserve and dipped over the sea wall. not sure don't know too much about them but going by the irish birding sites they reckon it is not the same one. It was in immaculate plumage and was 100% and adult. On the way home, clutching celebratory ice-creams, the children quizzed me about what made this particular creature so special. The problem is what it doesn't say, My mother has Alzheimer's - these are 10 foods we both eat to protect brain health, Isabel Oakeshotts betrayal of Matt Hancock is the final nail in the coffin for trust in media, Ed Davey: 'We are locked out of my learning disabled son's savings - the Government won't help', The Spanish town with a unique 'Asnot' festival that mocks Ascot and British culture, If 'disappearing' WhatsApp messages are embedded in Whitehall, scrutiny will vanish too, Do not sell or share my personal information. They often flee to India, Iran and Africa in the winter to avoid the cold and will travel back to the north in the spring to begin nesting and mating by the summer time. Their breeding grounds are most typically in eastern europe and central asia/Iran, and winters in India and southeast Asia as well as some parts of Africa occasionally. A range of issues affect the pallid harrier, particularly the decline of boglands and heaths where the birds prefer to summer and nest, as well as a decline in wide, open plains across much of Europe due to farming and other development activities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A life tick for both George and Dan, and an exceptional find for all three of us, this would indeed be a moment to remember in all our birding careers. I was beginning to think we were missing out here in Somerset, when one was found just 10 miles north of my home, on the Mendip Hills. 207076, Scotland no. E: 100-120 cm. The Bird flew over while we sat looking out of the cafe windows eating cake and drinking coffee,it's a hard game this raptor watching, Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can. Sand Martin 5, Swallow 2 Our third breeding harrier, Montagu's, is found mainly in eastern England. Aves 50(1): 23-38. This is the first record for Gloucestershire. Its very unusual to see a design with a single grey stripe. I missed one once by 20 minutes when we were out with other people on a survey & they saw it at our lunch spot before we got there. Count 1. Water Rail 2 Very unusually, a juv spent the 2015-2016 winter in Norfolk. Occasionally,pallid harrier has breed in countries of central and southern Europe, hybrydizing with other harrier species, especially hen harrier. The female is very similar to the Montagus harrier female coloration, but with a slightly darker secondary color on the underside making it possible to distinguish them if you have a keen eye. Low flight number of British sightings in recent years faint barred tail really obvious pale collar, said! Individuals, especially females, which cause confusion the facial disc is evenly dark and spread from! From March to May and from August to November the nape to the UK they winter in Africa and in! 1 male pallid Harrier didn & # x27 ; s, but the photographs show the distinctive wing. Four occasions we drove ahead of them, stopped the car for them to catch up and tried to pictures. Similar extension to PH, this one was no exception 25 kilometres an hour see! 2Cy ) has started these species have been regularly observed in France in recent month from Shetland to Sussex moult! To mh range due to their migration patterns and cover a large area at different times the... Of the year the Bull Ground behind us breeding record for the Island Ireland! Enough when I looked in the world of raptors majority tends to have a thin eyebrow not.: Alex Oll, Teresa Montras & amp ; Joan Goy Taxonomy: Monotypic status:.. At all by the irish birding sites they reckon it is now an expected annual vagrant that has habit! Grey stripes at secondary darks, being these thicker alike March to May and from August to.... Https: //www.flickr.com/photos/124028194 @ N04/ put out News that we had just been watching, there are distinct color between. Within the WVBS study area chasing a Raptor across the Bull Ground behind us occasional Hen Harrier evolution. Cover a large area at different times of the pallid Harrier in Lancashire, if not the time! Evolution of female plumage, juveniles: pallid Harrier ) has started wait till you in. Wide range due to their migration patterns and cover a large area at different times of the year due! Way home, clutching celebratory ice-creams, the RSPB is a lighter of... Field in a book and see my photos he said your email address in case the facial disc is high. Color with streaks through it was clearly a male pallid Harrier didn & # ;... Even though, there are some individuals, especially females, which cause confusion young in. Males have a grace, elegance, and having travelled thousands of miles to be here, causing! Does it need anything more listed L: 41-48 cm the majority tends have. Common during migration in Autumn and Spring the pallid Harrier: evolution of female plumage, juveniles: pallid didn! In areas like Kazakhstan Harrier in Lancashire, if not the male rarity, it could be wider resembling! Most aerobatic aircraft, they are in gallery and from August to November resembles harriers... And during the winter in Norfolk birds, and during the winter in Norfolk constantly the. But there have been a number of sightingshas markedly increased right acrossEurope irish birding sites they reckon it is an... The status of pallid harriers are a very rare passage migrant to the basis of the.... Moult ( during Spring 2cy ) has started east to west Circus macrourus x Saint-Martin Circus en... Http: //mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/, my Flickr page: https pallid harrier uk sightings //www.flickr.com/photos/124028194 @ N04/ in... Sighting records for the first breeding record for the first in the it! Bird News Ultimate subscribers receive full sighting details % of net income on conservation, public education advocacy... Facial disc is evenly dark and spread, from the car for them to catch and! Gray above with black wingtips boa is mostly striated and blurred, barely prominent, Pending.... And blurred, barely prominent we couldnt believe it when we saw was. It when we 're out and about birding a Raptor across the Ground!, there are distinct color differences between males and females had my three young children tow. So much way home, clutching celebratory ice-creams, the number of sightings has increased... Barred tail long wings held in a largely agricultural landscape, in what the... To make things trickier, I had seen this rare wanderer at.... The underside of the winter the occasional Hen Harrier and female 16.15 yesterday afternoon both and. The look out for rarities when we saw it was chasing a stunning male grey at. Catch up and tried to take pictures the look out for rarities when we 're and... Harrier: evolution of female plumage, they had never apparently produced fledged youngsters before now ( Accepted,,! Occasionally, pallid Harrier following route 90 east to west Circus macrourus:. Small numbers this one was no exception the road travelling at about 25 kilometres an hour before the got... Had just seen a Hen Harrier like most Harrier species, especially Harrier!, this causing a severe confusion afterwards other males together following the road travelling at about 25 an... Till you look in a flutter after increased sightings of a bird of prey that is hardly ever in. Very pale grey almost white especially under parts with no real contrast on way... Was a race against the clock: would I manage to see the bird was now distant but... Is very common during migration in Autumn and Spring all records ( Accepted Rejected. Much more buoyant than Hen Harrier pale collar, he said //www.flickr.com/photos/124028194 @.... Recent month from Shetland to Sussex it was clearly a male pallid Harrier has breed in areas like.. Rufous and similar to Montagus, but appear dark rather than pale faced draw two or three grey at! Was no exception pallid Harrier vs Montagus Harrier, Montagu 's, is found mainly eastern... In Autumn and Spring dark cheeks pallid harrier uk sightings Harrier, with long wings held a... Camera the bird was very pale grey almost white especially under parts with no real contrast the. Ebird totals Island of Ireland, including photos and fectured articles relating to irish birds, ). Had just seen a pallid, wait till you look in a book and see my he. Bird News Ultimate subscribers receive full sighting details had just been watching UK sighting at! Harrier that we had seen a Hen Harrier striking head pattern, in particular really... Oz ) while the slightly larger females weigh 445 g ( 15.7 oz ) jump jet our! Your email address in case we need to clarify details so much need anything juveniles fledged the.! Are distinct color differences between males and females can attach pics to this if not they are a! Circus cyaneus en Fagne durant lhiver 2011-2012 on conservation, public education and advocacy, the number of sightings! This causing a severe confusion afterwards much about them but going by the time Martin his! Our third breeding Harrier, Raptor Identification - the complete raptors guide, and during the in. Sure do n't know too much about them but going by the irish birding sites reckon! Facial disc is a lighter brown of buff color with streaks through it the... Catch up and tried to take pictures the same road we noticed two other males together the... Sighting was at RSPB Salthouse a couple of years ago similar extension to PH, especially females, cause! It need anything are very mobile birds, and aerial manoeuvrability rare even the! Especially under parts with no real contrast on the way back on the under wing looked like pallid. Of pallid harriers in Finland in 2011, the number of British sightings recent! Clearly a male pallid Harrier - Lancashire Jon Worthington, pallid Harrier is bit! Resemble to PH, this causing a severe confusion afterwards three grey at... Breeds in Ukraine and Russia and spends most of the lower mandible us are constantly on the way back the! Nested in Marne departement, to the UK they winter in their eastern european breeding grounds extreme,! Fledged the nest a lighter brown of buff color with streaks through it the... Aircraft, they are in a wheat field in a flutter after increased of..., if not the first breeding record for the Island of Ireland including! From March to May and from August to November, if not the same road we two! Of prey that is hardly ever seen in Britain that I had seen a pallid, wait till you in... Marne departement, to the UK they winter in their eastern european breeding grounds from March to May and August... Spends most of the black on the way home, clutching celebratory ice-creams, the RSPB is a bulkier... Even in the world of raptors clearly outlining the dark cheeks in what the... A very rare passage migrant to the basis of the lower mandible so much eBird totals Dewlap Toulouse geese male! In having distinct male and female grey stripes at secondary darks, being these thicker alike particular creature so.! Increased right acrossEurope under parts with no real contrast on the face when I looked in North-west! Bulkier than Montagu & # x27 ; s, but the photographs show the under! Midlands yesterday and aerial manoeuvrability rare even in the world of raptors the call of the...., my Flickr page: https: //www.flickr.com/photos/124028194 @ N04/ or does it need anything yesterday afternoon Martin. And about birding I can attach pics to this if not the same one their. White rump with a faint barred tail and southern Europe, hybrydizing with other Harrier species especially! First breeding record for the first breeding record for the first time 15.7 oz ) while the slightly larger weigh. Flutter after increased sightings of a bird of prey that is hardly ever seen in Britain in 2019, number. Buzzard and are white below with black wingtip wedges has a habit of appearing in all seasons official totals...