Today's Wildlife Encounter

[wheezing donkey]

Possible male hen harrier today. Largish bird of prey, strikingly light underside with very obvious black wing ends. Sleek and fast-looking. I hope it avoids the various perils around here.

Yes, the females are brownish red; the males are almost white bordering on pale blue. The other give-away is the 'slab sided' head, appears very flat around the eyes, as in a barn owl. Also a rather 'erratic' flight pattern, similar to a lap wing. The long 'swept back' wings appear to be disproportionately slender.

Ian Roberts, Bowland FR

PS Your local constabulary should have an appointed Wild Life Protection Officer ( usually a local village 'bobby'), get the information of your sighting to him/her.