Raptor - Essex UK (1 Viewer)

[djw0208]

I had trouble identifying this at first as the size threw me, but am now thinking in is a Hen Harrier because of the white bar on the upper tail.

Is that correct please?

I've not seen one before, so could easily have it completely wrong !!

 

[Butty]

Could you give the date, please? Thanks.
It's a harrier, and not a marsh harrier. Seems to have 5-fingered wing and dark secondaries which would make it 1st-winter hen harrier. Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable.

 

[djw0208]

Date was today - it was at Fobbing creek, which is not far from the Thames Estuary.

 

[djw0208]

Often see Marsh Harriers there, but didn't recognise this as one, at first I thought it was a Falcon except for size. It was much closer at first but dropped down behind the sea wall before I could take a photo, but then popped back up a little further away, hence why I thought it was too large for a falcon.

 

[Ratal]

Hen Harrier by looks of it.

 

[djw0208]

Thank-you - a lifer for me!

 

[Derbyfella]

From the photos, is there a way of distinguishing between hen harrier or pallid?

 

[Butty]

From the photos, is there a way of distinguishing between hen harrier or pallid?

See above.

 

[Derbyfella]

thanks Butty…
this picture also appears to have dark wingtips and is supposed to be a pallid harrier ( first picture on page)

https://ebird.org/species/palhar1

very interesting and diffildult for a nice like me to pick out the subtle differences, quickly.

would we always err on the side of Hen Harriers in the Uk?balance of probability

 

[aeshna5]

thanks Butty…
this picture also appears to have dark wingtips and is supposed to be a pallid harrier ( first picture on page)

https://ebird.org/species/palhar1

very interesting and diffildult for a nice like me to pick out the subtle differences, quickly.

would we always err on the side of Hen Harriers in the Uk?balance of probability

The number of fingers eliminates Pallid/Montagu's, though of course the latter not found here at this time of year.