The Lincolnshire Bird Club

In the winter of 1973-74 a ringtail harrier wintered in the Donna Nook - Rimac area where it roosted on the freshmarsh nightly; the record I assume? was submitted to BBRC as a Marsh Hawk, now Northern Harrier, hudsonius but was rejected as that race in a recent review in BB when the first British record on Scilly in 1982 was detailed. As most people will know at least 3 birds have been claimed this winter in Ireland (2) and North Norfolk and photos have just emerged of a male photographed in Durham in Sept 2009 --
Just to try and get a better idea on the credentials of the Lincolnshire bird I am wondering if anyone has any notes (photos?) of the bird and details of the submission -- my own notes add nothing to the general unstreaked rufous colour of the underparts noted in BOLSH but I did note a broader white more contrasting rump than in other Hen Harriers in the roost --- my description of heavily barred underwings is rather typically lacking in precision for the time and my youthful optimism! -- I also noted it landing in bushes on several occasions but made no mention of the upperpart colouration.

Anyone with any info please make it available -- its a very long shot but may add to our understanding of these intriguing harriers

It might be worth asking Keith Atkin - he was getting a lot of photo's of rare birds in years gone by.

Roy

but usually in Black and White that would not have helped a lot -- I assume KA sent in the description but wondered if anyone else remembered it

I remember the bird and saw it a couple of times with Keith Atkin and we were pretty sure at the time that it was hudsonius. I seem to remember that I helped Keith with the description but I do not think that I have any notes from that far back. I'm sure that Keith will be the best bet to come up with more details - a B&W picture would be better than nothing.

I saw the bird at Titchwell/Thornham on Saturday and it certainly had a more contrasting,large white rump patch when compared to the other Hen Harriers it was seen in the air with and observed through the day.


Regards


Steve.

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