Events conspired to prevent an attempt to see the juvenile Pallid Harrier in Sussex last weekend - one of about 40 species I have seen but not yet photographed in Britain - so the chance to see another in Somerset this weekend had to be taken. A party of Crossbills chivvied me along on the long walk up Black Down and as soon as I arrived at the Trig Point the bird showed distantly. As it was heading around the north side of the Down, I carried on walking and it came reasonably close allowing the first and final shots below to be taken.
The picture below was taken much later in the day, after a short excursion to nearby Chew Valley Lake where Spotted and Pectoral Sandpipers, Grey Wagtail and some showy Water Rail were present. Oh, and an ice cream van.
The Harrier showed very rufous underparts, and the well-marked collar that helps distinguish it from Montagu's Harrier. I would describe the flight action as languid generally but when hunting small passerines it could show great agility. The bird would go missing for long periods, and could be difficult to see over the convex slopes of Black Down, but the sight of Meadow Pipits flushing wildly was often a clue that it was about to appear.
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