Whilst birding the pivot irrigation fields
of Haradh in recent weeks I have come across good numbers of Pallid Harriers
over the fields. The birds seem to be finding plenty of food in the area and
obviously winter locally, although numbers during my early April visit were
probably increased by some passage migrants moving through. Most of the birds
seen were female birds although at least two Adult males were also seen. Some
of the birds remained faithful to single pivot fields being seen in the same
area at different times of day. The species is an uncommon passage migrant from
late February to early May and again from September through November. Haradh is
the best locality for seeing the species and previously during winter almost
all records refer to adult males over cultivated fields, although now females
appear to outnumber males. Montagu’s Harrier is an uncommon passage migrant
that is regular in April, September and October with up to eight seen in a day
at Haradh in September. I found one bird at quite a distance sitting on a pivot
irrigation bar that looked like a Montagu’s Harrier but unfortunately it flew
off without me seeing it and I could not re-find it.
