In January and February of this year I visited Morocco for 2 weeks together with 3 birding friends. On the 9th of February we had have the entire desert, atlas and coast section plus even a bit we didn't anticipated but eventually had time for, Khniffis Lagoon. The 9th was our last day before our flight from Marrakech back to the Dutch/German border and we planned to spend it at the Souss Massa.
In the afternoon we already had a great day with Plain Martin and an Egyptian Mongoose to show for when we encountered an unexpected Black-shouldered Kite which soon multiplied into three birds. The birds where hunting over a field and we had some good albeit distant views. I decided to walk along the fields and hedgerows to get a bit closer while the others stayed at the car. While waiting for one of the birds to fly over towards me I noticed a Harrier flying at about 1km distance. First impression was that it was one of the better kind of Harriers, the smaller ones; Montagu's or Pallid due to the flight action. Hen was easily excluded by the complete lack of any streaking on the underparts, the highly orange tone of the underparts and especially the narrow hand (even though the exact number of protruding primaries couldn't be safely calculated). The head pattern had strong contrast and so, having a 400mm lens with me, I decided to take a couple of pictures. The two pictures below are the only two on which some things can actually be seen, there is one more 'decent' picture but that is of the 'not-so-helping-with-identification'-upperside. Realizing that the others were way to far away to be alarmed I tried to concentrate on identifying it, which failed since the bird disappeared shortly thereafter. Besides a short discussion on the bird at the car I didn't really think about it anymore 'till recently, I looked up the pictures again and quite a big deal could be seen. The blackish arm contrasting with the off grey hand, an extremely contrasting head made up of the dark face, pale collar and dark boa. Although I'm not sure if it's wishful thinking but it seems that the arm is three-toned with the black secondaries, dark orange greater underwing coverts and pale orange trailing edge.
Now I really think this bird is a 2ndCY Pallid Harrier but are the pics enough for it to get accepted by the/any Rarity Committee? I don't think so and would like people to tell me otherwise! Haha
In the afternoon we already had a great day with Plain Martin and an Egyptian Mongoose to show for when we encountered an unexpected Black-shouldered Kite which soon multiplied into three birds. The birds where hunting over a field and we had some good albeit distant views. I decided to walk along the fields and hedgerows to get a bit closer while the others stayed at the car. While waiting for one of the birds to fly over towards me I noticed a Harrier flying at about 1km distance. First impression was that it was one of the better kind of Harriers, the smaller ones; Montagu's or Pallid due to the flight action. Hen was easily excluded by the complete lack of any streaking on the underparts, the highly orange tone of the underparts and especially the narrow hand (even though the exact number of protruding primaries couldn't be safely calculated). The head pattern had strong contrast and so, having a 400mm lens with me, I decided to take a couple of pictures. The two pictures below are the only two on which some things can actually be seen, there is one more 'decent' picture but that is of the 'not-so-helping-with-identification'-upperside. Realizing that the others were way to far away to be alarmed I tried to concentrate on identifying it, which failed since the bird disappeared shortly thereafter. Besides a short discussion on the bird at the car I didn't really think about it anymore 'till recently, I looked up the pictures again and quite a big deal could be seen. The blackish arm contrasting with the off grey hand, an extremely contrasting head made up of the dark face, pale collar and dark boa. Although I'm not sure if it's wishful thinking but it seems that the arm is three-toned with the black secondaries, dark orange greater underwing coverts and pale orange trailing edge.
Now I really think this bird is a 2ndCY Pallid Harrier but are the pics enough for it to get accepted by the/any Rarity Committee? I don't think so and would like people to tell me otherwise! Haha
Putative second calendar year Pallid Harrier, Souss Massa. 9-2-2011
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