Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus, 1766) (0, 12)

Photo © George Gay - North Ronaldsay, Orkney, 8 October 2015

STATUS

North America. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Accepted as a full species after a split from Hen Harrier C. cyaneus in 2006.

Five records have been in south-west England, two in East Anglia, one in north-east England and Wales with Scotland hosting three individuals.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1982 Isles of Scilly St Mary's and other islands, juvenile, 22nd October to 7th June 1983, photo.

(D. B. Hunt & M. J. Rogers, Isles of Scilly Bird Report 1982: 13; BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 195; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 707, plate 337; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 34; BOURC (2008), Ibis 150: 218; J. P. Martin, British Birds 101: 394-407).

2). 2008 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 24th September to 3rd October, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 594, plates 286, 335 & 336).

3). 2009 Co. Durham Cocklade Side, Selset Reservoir, second-winter male, 22nd February, photo.

(Birding World 23 (11): 460, photo; K. Mullarney & D. Forsman, Birding World 23 (12): 509-523, plates 22-25; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 104: 574, plate 299; Bowey & Newsome, 2012: photo).

4). 2010 Norfolk Holme/Morston area, first-winter male, 27th October to February 2011, photo.

(Birding World 23 (11): 460, photo; K. Mullarney & D. Forsman, Birding World 23 (12): 509-523, plates 16-21; Birding World 24 (1): 8, photo; Birding World 24 (2): 49, photos; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 104: 574, plates 300 & 301; Birding World 24 (12): 514, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 567).

5). 2011 Outer Hebrides Barvas, Lewis, 2CY, female, 8th February to 25th March, photo.

(Birding World 24 (2): 48, photos; M. S. Scott, Scottish Birds 31: 172-174, plates 145-150; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 566).

6). 2013 Cambridgeshire Ouse Washes RSPB, juvenile female, 19th October to 12th November, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 594, plates 286, 335 & 336; D. J. Hatton, British Birds 107: 656, plates 335 & 336).

7). 2013 Cornwall Men-an-Tol, adult male, 23rd November, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 594, plates 286, 335 & 336).

8). 2014 Dorset Portland Bill, male, 21st April, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 579, plate 328).

9.0). 2015 Orkney North Ronaldsay, 2CY+ male, 25th September to 28th February 2016, photo.

(M. Warren, Scottish Birds 36: 47-49, plates 54-59; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 109: 582, plates 32 & 310; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 572).

9.1). 2016 Orkney Locality withheld, 3CY+ male, 20th April to 23rd June, photo; presumed same, North Ronaldsay, 3CY+ male, 23rd October to 17th April 2017, photo; presumed returning individual.

(British Birds 110: plates 261 & 262; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 572; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 566).

10). 2018 Isles of Scilly Lower Moors and other sites, St Mary's, 3CY+, male, 9th to 13th May, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 571).

11). 2023 Cornwall Goonhilly Downs, The Lizard, 1CY, male, 28th September to 16th October, photo.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 702, plate 478).

12). 2025 Gwent Uskmouth Reedbeds, Newport Wetlands NNR, 3CY+, male, 15th October, photo.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 579).