ML637423023

Observation details

Observed bird in distance soring and plunging above the fields. Medium sized unfamiliar raptor. Took a number of long distance photos. Later Merlin ID as northern Harrier. Long tail and distinctive white patch on rump, white ring around neck. 21st June -2025 : was asked by eBird professionals to change species to Harrier SP. Update 5th September 2025 : A Harrier sp. photographed by Michael St. John at Foster’s Private Wetland, Saint Lucy, Barbados on 11 June has been confirmed by raptor experts as a female Hen Harrier – the first record for the Americas (https://ebird.org/checklist/S249288267). Paul Irving commented “Its a female Hen Harrier in wing moult, there are not enough dark cross bars in the outer primaries for it to be a Northern Harrier and it has the right number to be a Hen. The apparently 3 new secondaries show it to be a female rather than young male”. https://markavery.info/2025/09/04/first-hen-harrier-for-barbados/