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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Hen Harrier - circus cyaneus

 

Except in the mildest regions such as France and Great Britain, Hen Harrier migrates to more southerly areas in winter where they will roost communally often with Merlin. This conspicuous raptor attracts intense illegal persecution from gamekeepers on hunting estates particularly those managed for Red Grouse shooting. Because of this they are now rare in the UK. Mellersh 1902: (Birds of Gloucestershire) referred to Hen Harrier as being formerly resident and still frequent around 1850. Its scientific name is a direct reference to its circling flight 'circus' and the 'bluish' plumage colouration of the male. Some historical names for Hen Harrier include; Blue Hawk, Miller, White Aboon, Gled, Faller, Katabella and Flapper.

 

There have been around 35 Hen Harriers reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2011: (c.5)

A female was seen over the salt marsh at Aust Warth at 15:45 on January 1st where it was mobbed by corvids; A ringtail was noted in the Shire Hill area at Marshfield in mid February; A ringtail, probably this species, was seen over the M48 near Pilning on May 3rd; A juvenile was seen at Wick Quarry on September 14th; A ringtail, probably female, was reported from Aust Warth mid afternoon around 14:30 on December 12th;

 

 

Female Hen Harrier at Aust Warth. January 2011. Paul Bowerman.

 

 

This juvenile shows quite well defined pale tips to the greater coverts and rusty under parts. September 2011. Pete Blanchard.

 

2010: (c.6)

One was seen on January 17th at 16:00 over Northwick Warth; A ring tail was watched on Northwick Warth, New Passage late afternoon on October 13th; A ringtail was seen from midday until dusk on October 18th in the Shirehill area near Plough Farm where it occasionally drifted into S. Glos; A ringtail was present in fields at the eastern end of Rushmead Lane on November 14th - 15th and may have been lingering in the area since October; An adult male was seen and photographed over Northwick Warth early morning on December 10th; A ringtail was seen in flight over Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station and then towards Thornbury Yacht Club at 13:20 on December 14th; An immature was present at Aust Warth on December 24th at 13:40 and appeared to go to roost there and on December 26th the same or another was noted mid-channel off New Passage at 12:15.

 

 

Hen Harrier at Aust Warth. December 2010. Paul Bowerman.

 

 

These stunning field notes of a ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Aust perfectly capture the moment! October 2010. Phil Baber.

 

2009: (4)

An adult female was seen over Lagoon I at Oldbury Power Station around 16:20 on April 19th and continued north-east; A female/ juvenile was reported over Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station at around 15:45 on August 11th; A ringtail was noted in off the estuary then south-east over Northwick Warth on September 19th; A female/ juvenile was seen over Harcombe Wood from the long track near Ebbdown Farm at Marshfield on November 2nd.

 

2008: (4) HIGHEST COUNT (2)

A ringtail was seen flying low to the north-east over Aust Warth in the morning on April 22nd; A male was seen at Severn Beach flying upriver at 09:05; A 'ringtail' was watched for over five minutes around Rushmead Farm at Marshfield on September 25th. It was still present on September 26th, 27th and October 1st and was joined by a second 'ringtail' from October 2nd & 3rd. No date: At Oldbury Power Station in early December a dog-walker reported what was probably a male flushed from the long grass around Lagoon II.

 

 

Hen Harrier at Severn Beach. May 2008. Paul Bowerman.

 

 

 

Just some of the great action shots of Hen Harriers at Marshfield. October 2008. Rob Laughton.

 

2007: (5)

A first calendar year 'ringtail' was seen for around half an hour from 13:00 at Aust Warth on October 22nd; One, a ringtail was seen at Severn Beach on November 7th; A ringtail was reported at Oldbury Power Station ranging between lagoon II and the orchard in the afternoon on November 16th; A ringtail was seen near the cemetery off Tormarton Road on November 23rd & flushed from Lark Lane at Marshfield at 15:25 on November 25th (ST: 778 744) when it then flew east over Culverslade towards Downthorns Farm; One was reported along the shore at Oldbury Power Station on November 28th and again on December 15th; A ringtail was seen near West Littleton Down on December 16th.

 

2006: (1)

A second calendar year male was reported briefly on the morning of August 26th near the picnic area at the top of Tog Hill but could not be relocated after the initial sighting.

 

2005: (2)

A winter adult was seen at Lark Lane near Marshfield oh January 31st; A juvenile male was seen to drift over the Bristol/ S. Gloucestershire boundary in the Chittening Warth area on October 20th.

 

 

Hen Harrier at Chittening Warth. October 2005. Paul Bowerman.

 

2004: (1)

A 'ringtail' was reported from Oldbury Power Station between the coast and Lagoon II on the afternoon of January 4th.

 

2001: (1)

A juvenile was seen on October 22nd at Northwick Warth.

 

1992: (1)

On January 24th a ‘ringtail’ was reported at Northwick Warth.

 

1991: (1)

A male was seen on March 29th at New Passage.

 

1985: (1)

On January 13th a ‘ringtail’ was watched at New Passage.

 

1982: (2)

A male was reported from Filton Airfield on March 9th; A female/ immature was seen at Northwick Warth on November 6th.

 

1980: (1)

A female/immature was seen on November 2nd at Northwick Warth. (Brian Lancastle)

 

©TBOSG November 2005 - All rights reserved