Rare bird spotted at Durness
A RARE bird has turned up at mainland Britain's most north westerly village.
A Pallid Harrier was recorded at Durness on Tuesday.
Similar to but paler than a Hen Harrier, with fewer black primaries, this is a very rare visitor from eastern Europe.
Most records concern juveniles seen in autumn and some remain through winter. Identification is complicated by the presence of Hen×Pallid Harrier hybrids.
"Harriers are stunning, lithe and elegant birds of prey. Two species of grey harrier are regularly found in the UK, Hen and Montagu's - the males are relatively easy to separate, but the females and young birds can be more tricky," said the British Trust for Ornithology.
The first record of a Pallid Harrier was in Shetland in 1931. This species is listed as a rare vagrant to the UK.
