I'm not bad at identifying wild birds; they've been an interest of mine since I was quite small.
Over the past 10 years or so I've occasionally seen a hawk-type bird that kept me guessing. It flies quite close to the ground, covers a huge area very quickly, then disappears. It's been turning-up just once a year, then we don't see it again for another 12 months.
It is basically all pale grey/white, but with black wing tips. I did think it was a Goshawk, but having recently studied it quite carefully through my binoculars, I'm now 99% sure that it's a Northern Harrier a.k.a. Hen Harrier.
I'm sure it will remain in the area because this year we've seen two of them together, and presume they will breed. I do hope so, it's a stunningly beautiful bird.
There is another possibility.... Montague's Harrier. Both breed in France, but the change in "agroculture" to winter wheat....and early harvest, has endangered them severely. The harvest now normally takes place just when there are fledglings in the nest.
ReplyDeleteHere, in Centre, the LPO attempt to identify nest sites.... then, with the agreement of the farmer, fence the nest off. This seems to be working, but there aren't enough people on the ground to spot nests!
We get both here... Hen Harriers all year round, Monties in summer...
They are a wonderful sight.....
I just had a look at the Montague's Harrier, and I think the black wing tips are much bigger than on my bird. I'm pretty sure our one is a Hen Harrier, but seeing it so seldom (once a year), and at a distance, one can never be sure. Beautiful bird, regardless. Thanks.
DeleteThis bird isn't a mature male, so the additional brown on the underwings would make it more easily confumbled with a Monty... but on a Monty, the darker grey of the head blends into the chest.... here, even on a young bird, there is a clear demarcation between the two!
ReplyDeleteI chose this picture because it shows roughly what I see. Looking at some of the other pictures, they could almost be a totally different variety.
DeleteWe had a Cock Pheasant in the garden yesterday; a VERY rare sight, as you could imagine!
We cal all our visiting cock pheasants....Jeremy!
DeleteAfter a well known TV presenter... late of Top Gear.... red faced, loud and very self-important!
There are a few around here because La Chasse has declared a moratorium on pheasant and partridge to try and build a wilder population.
At the moment, they tend to walk up to the guns and ask for food!
The hares are off limits, too.... populations are very low.... mainly for the same reasons as the harriers!
I think they should add Red Deer to the list; I've seen just two in the past few years. Roe Deer are everywhere!
DeleteI love watching the hawks high in the sky over the valley in front of our house, the way they drift and swoop.
ReplyDeleteWe have plenty of Buzzards that circle around, very high up, just enjoying themselves.
DeleteYours sounds like a male hen harrier. He probably has four or five wives.
ReplyDeleteRachel.... wot?
DeleteThey are monogamous..... besides which, there aren't enough around to even think about being unfaithful!!
He certainly gets around a lot, but as for having a wife in every port; I'm not sure. I have seen him with one female.
DeleteNo shortage around here, plenty of mates to go round.
DeleteReally? I'm surprised.
DeleteI'll get my other half to have a look at your Harrier, (he's one of the nations' experts)... when he comes back from North Ronaldsay that is, where he's enjoying the Red-winged Blackbird, a first for Britain!
ReplyDeleteIt's not my own photo Sue; I took it from Google images just to show what I'm talking about.
DeleteThe expert says your photo is of a Hen Harrier. That's not to say that your actual bird is something slightly different...
DeleteA common hawk in our part of the world is the red tailed hawk. I love seeing birds of prey. My husband always thinks it means a healthy eco system. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteOur only really common 'Hawk' is the Buzzard. Sadly they are not popular with most other birds.
DeleteLooking at my bird book ( as I am sure you have already done) it looks like a hen harrier. What a beauty!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure it's a Hen Harrier. I probably won't see it for another year now.
DeleteThey all look like seagulls to me.
ReplyDeleteIf you saw one mixed in with Seagulls, you probably wouldn't notice the difference.
DeleteThe Hen Harrier does look to be a beautiful bird. We do see hawks flying over Central Park and sometimes also over surrounding areas like my own neighborhood. It's alway a treat! Nice break from the pigeons and sparrows.
ReplyDeleteWe have Buzzards and Sparrow Hawks here. The Buzzards are the biggest local bird, apart from the Herons.
DeleteWe live in a hawk area. Like you, my husband loves to watch and identify them. They are magnificent looking creatures but when I see them flying around my yard, I do fear, especially at this time of year, for all the little animals that live in my yard and woods.
ReplyDeleteEverything has to live off everything else. Nature isn't kind to itself. Sad but true.
DeleteHawks can be so hard to identify. We have several kinds that live around here but I seldom have any idea which one I'm seeing.
ReplyDeleteMost are similarly brown, which makes the Hen Harrier stand out, but even then there are others that are similar.
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