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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Montagu's Harrier - circus pygargus

 

George Montagu was an English naturalist who is best known for his Ornithological Dictionary, he has contributed significantly to early knowledge of British birds. He showed that many hitherto accepted species were invalid either being birds in summer or winter plumage or males and females of the same species. His study of harriers resulted in the discovery that Montagu's Harrier was breeding in southern England and he was also involved in the first British records of Cirl Bunting, Cattle Egret, Little Gull and Gull-billed Tern. The scientific name 'pygargus' quite literally means white rump or more precisely, the rump plus white.

 

There have been seven Montagu's Harrier reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2011: (1)

A 2nd calendar year male was present at Marshfield on July 3rd at about 20:45. First seen over Orchid Lane it drifted slowly south east over the east end of Rushmead Lane and Tormarton Road before dropping onto fence posts near tumble down farm buildings 200 metres east of Tormarton Road. (ST: 788 753) (John Barnett, Martyn Hayes)

 

2008: (1)

A female/ immature was seen in flight on May 12th just north of Tormarton at around 11:00. It was watched in a tree, then in flight heading south towards Marshfield before returning north to be watched north of the B4040 near Lyegrove House, east of the A46.

 

2005: (1)

On June 20th at Rushmead Lane/ Tormarton Road near Marshfield, a 2nd calendar male was seen in flight north-west towards West Littleton at 20:00 and remained in the area until the 22nd June. (ST: 779 754)

 

 

Montagu's Harrier at Rushmead Lane near Marshfield. June 2005. Paul Bowerman.

 

1994: (1)

On June 11th a ‘ringtail’ was located at West Littleton Down.

 

1991: (1)

On October 16th a female flew in over the estuary drifting east at Aust Warth.

 

1982: (1)

A female/ immature was identified on August 3rd near Marshfield.

 

1958: (1)

A ‘ring-tailed’ harrier being mobbed by Rooks was noted on May 25th near Marshfield was believed to be this species. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species for S. Gloucestershire.

 

©TBOSG November 2005 - All rights reserved