Still looking…. West Moor, West Sedgemoor and Curry Moor all visited over the last few days.  Nothing….

Thank you.  That’s three of us that think we’ve seen a Montagu’s Harrier but I am still short of a description that I am confident about.  But it seems to be hanging about the southern part of the levels so let’s keep looking.

Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to take any photos. The only thing I can say is that the bird was a dull grey rather than a bright, fresh grey.

This is getting interesting.  Did you any notice any pattern on either the upper or lower wing?  Any photos?

No sign of the bird on West Sedgemoor on 26 December or on West Moor this morning, 29 December.

I had an excellent sighting of what looked like a male Montagu’s Harrier on West Sedgemoor at 3.20pm on the 28th Dec. I can confirm that the bird did not have a white rump; the primaries were very long and black along a significant length of the wing - at least a third. It was flying about 6-7 feet high, along a rhyne. It had a particularly delicate and buoyant flight pattern and was certainly much slimmer than a hen harrier.

As you say, curiouser and curiouser.    But see my Twitter account for further discussion: https://twitter.com/alicksimmons/status/944261519684104193

It would be worth you submitting a description to the SOS rarities committee (as I have done).  You can get the template here:  http://somersetbirding.org.uk/guidelines-for-the-submission-of-records.   

We need to get some photos!

You said: “Taking into account the distinct black mark on the upper secondaries, its jizz and smallish size, I decided it was a Montagu’s Harrier”. I had exactly the same feeling as you. When I got home I thought my unlikely improbable highly doubtful Montagu’s needing recording, and that was when I saw your post - not the other way round. Curiouser and curiouser - Rod

That might explain why we didn’t see it on West Moor yesterday morning!  Did you note any other features?

There is considerable doubt about the reliability of this record, not the least in my mind. 

Assuming we saw the same bird, there is no doubt that it is a male grey Circus sp but we need to be certain what species it was.  I initially thought it was a Hen Harrier but on reflection and taking into account the distinct black mark on the upper secondaries, its jizz and smallish size, I decided it was a Montagu’s Harrier .  I’m not so sure now and given that HH has been on Wet Moor and on Catcott Lows during the last week or so and MH is not recognised as a wintering bird, HH is probably more likely.  This has been reinforced by some helpful comments from others. 

I will continue looking.

I saw what could well have been a male Montagu’s Harrier flying low alongside and over the road connecting North Curry and Stoke St Gregory at around 9.15am yesterday, Saturday, December 23 (distinct black over slate grey wing markings, no white rump).

I found what I believe to be an adult male Montague’s Harrier on West Moor this morning.  If correct, this is an unusual record since the latest autumn record for this species in Somerset is 20 October and winter records in the UK are few.  The record has been discussed with Brian Gibbs, the county recorder, and a description has been submitted. 

No photos are available and it is quite likely the bird will be wandering the area.  I will be back tomorrow with a camera.