When I was in Portugal last month there was a small influx of pallid harriers
into South Lancs, with two or possibly even three birds involved in sightings at Marshside, Hesketh
Out Marsh and Belmont reservoir. Unfortunately all had disappeared by the time
I got back to the UK and I thought my chance had gone to see this fabulous raptor locally this year.
So my interest was immediately piqued on Sunday when there was another
sighting of possibly a fourth bird at Croston / Mawdesley mosses. Apparently
it's not the Marshside or Belmont bird but the Hesketh Out Marsh bird can't be
ruled out due to poor quality photos of that bird.
Today was my first opportunity to go and I was on site from about 8am -
10.30am. It was not the best light and there was a bit of drizzle, but the
bird performed really well, showing about four times in the period that I was
there, and a couple of times came very close.
It looks like a juvenile male.
I was compensated for missing the birds last month by seeing a pallid harrier near Sagres
in Portugal, but even so it would have been frustrating to miss out on this
years mini influx. This was actually my third in the Lancashire following the spectacular displaying male
in the Dunsop valley in 2017 and a juvenile on the Fylde in 2018. Juvenile
pallid harriers are always a special sighting.
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