A rare hen harrier was sighted in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, a key breeding spot for this threatened bird.
During summer, many move north to Scotland. They live on moors, bogs and grasslands. They also like marshes and swamps. These birds eat small mammals almost exclusively.
The hen harrier is about 41-52cm long. Its wingspan is about 1.2 meters. It is quite a sight when it flies. It used to eat free-range chickens. That’s where the name “hen harrier” came from!
This bird nests on the ground. It almost disappeared from the UK in the 1900s. It only lived on Orkney and the Outer Isles then. Afforestation helped them recover from 1930 to 1980.
However, grouse shooting still threatens it. Grouse are important to their diet. This bird is a conservation priority. Experts list it as “Red” in the UK.
The Forest of Bowland is their last English breeding spot. United Utilities owns much of this land. Seeing one is special for bird lovers. These sightings are not very common now.
To spot one, watch for slim, medium raptors. Males are blue-grey; females are mostly brown. Both sexes have a white patch on their rear. Their face is round like an owl. Also, they have a yellow and black beak.
If we keep conserving them, we may see them more often. Hopefully hen harriers delight East Lancashire more often soon.