The Hen Harrier

  Lawrence, R. D. Wildlife in America (Birds) 1975

  Leach, E. P. Montagu’s Harrier nesting in South-west Scotland. Scottish Naturalist 66. 1954

  Lilford, Lord. The Birds of Northamptonshire and neighbourhood. 1895

  Liljefors, B. Ute I Markerna. 1912. (A book of colour plates.)

  Lockie, J. D. The Breeding Habits and Food of Short-eared Owls after a vole plague. Bird Study 2. 1955

  Lockley, R. M. pers. comm. (On the Australasian Harrier in New Zealand.)

  Lovegrove, Roger. Death on the Welsh Hills. Wildlife. August 1976

  Lucca, C. de. Bird Migration through Malta. Ibis 111. 1969

  MacCaskill, D. and B. Wild Endeavour. 1975

  Macdonald, D. pers. comm. (The Hen Harrier in Sutherland.)

  ——— Further early fledging of Hen Harriers. Scottish Birds 7. 1972–73

  MacGillivray, D. H. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Arran.) (per L. A. Urquhart)

  MacGillivray, W. Description of the Rapacious Birds of Great Britain. 1836

  ——— History of British Birds. 1837–52

  Macintyre, D. Wildlife in the Highlands. 1936

  ——— Highland Naturalist Again. 1947

  Mackenzie, J. M. D. Montagu’s Harrier in Perthshire. Scottish Naturalist 63. 1951

  Macpherson, H. A. and Duckworth, W. Birds of Cumberland. 1886

  Macpherson, H. A. A Vertebrate Fauna of Lakeland. 1895

  McKeand, J. pers. comm. (The Hen Harrier in Kintyre.)

  McWilliam, Rev J. M. Birds of the Firth of Clyde. 1936

  Mead, C. J. Movements of British Raptors. Bird Study 20. 1973

  Meinertzhagen, R. Roost of Wintering Harriers. Ibis 98. 1956

  Milner, W. M. E. Birds of Sutherlandshire and Ross-shire. Zoologist. 1848

  Moffat, C. B. ed. Life and Letters of Alexander Goodman More. 1898

  Mois, Ch. Etude d’un dortoir hivernal de Busards Saint-Martin Circus cyaneus en Lorraine beige. Aves 3;12. 1975

  Montagu’s Ornithological Dictionary. ed. J. Rennie. 1931

  Moore, N. W. The Past and Present Status of the Buzzard in the British Isles. British Birds 50. 1957

  Moore, R. Birds of Devon. 1969

  More, A. G. On the Distribution of Birds in Great Britain during the nesting season. Ibis. New Series 1. 1865

  Moreau, R. E. Ecological changes in the Palearctic Region since the Pliocene. Proc. Zoological Society, London. 1955

  Muirhead, G. Birds of Berwickshire. 1889

  Mumford, R. E. pers. comm. (Winter Roosts of Marsh Hawks in Indiana.) (per Dr K. W. Brewster)

  Nethersole-Thompson, B. pers. comm. (Notes on Hen Harriers breeding in East Ross-shire.)

  Nethersole-Thompson, D. pers. comm. (Notes on Collectors and Hen Harriers in 19th and 20th centuries.)

  ——— Observations on Nesting Hen Harriers. Oologist Record 13. 1933

  ——— and Watson, A. The Cairngorms. 1974

  Neufeldt, I. A. Notes on the Nidification of the Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucus in Amurland, U.S.S.R. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society 64. 1967

  New Statistical Account of Scotland. 1845

  Nieboer, E. Geographical and Ecological Differentiation in the Genus Circus. Dissertation. Amsterdam. 1973

  Oakes, Clifford. The Birds of Lancashire. 1953

  Ogilvie, F. M. Field Observations on Britsh Birds. 1920

  Old Statistical Account of Scotland. 1791–97

  Ootheca Wolleyana. ed. Newton. 1964

  Orton, D. A. pers. comm. (The Hen Harrier in Mull and Hunting behaviour.)

  Ouston, H. pers. comm. (Research on Scotia Illustrata.)

  Palmar, C. E. and Greig, J. Montagu’s Harrier in Renfrewshire. Scottish Naturalist 64. 1942

  Palmer, E. M. and Ballance, D. K. The Birds of Somerset. 1968

  Parslow, J. Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland. 1973

  Paterson, J. and Mackeith, T. Pair of Hen Harriers in Renfrewshire. Scottish Naturalist. 1915

  Paton, E. R. and Pike, O. G. The Birds of Ayrshire. 1929

  Payn, W. H. The Birds of Suffolk. 1962

  Peel, C. V. A. Wild Sport in the Outer Hebrides. 1901

  Pennant, T. Caledonian Zoology. 1812 ed.

  Pennie, I. D. Birdwatching in Sutherland. Scottish Birds 2. 1962–63

  Picozzi, N. pers. comm. (Hen Harriers in Scotland.)

  Porter, R. F., Willis, Ian, Christensen, S. and Nielsen, B. P. Flight Identification of European Raptors. 1974

  Preston, K. pers. comm. (Hen Harriers in Ireland.) per D. Scott

  Raines, R. J. Hunting association of two Birds of Prey. Cheshire Bird Report. 1972

  Ramsay, A. D. K. pers. comm. (Hen Harrier records in the Outer Hebrides.)

  Randall, Pierce E. Seasonal Food Habits of the Marsh Hawk in Pennsylvania. Wilson Bulletin 52. 1940

  Ratcliffe, D. A. pers. comm. (Hen Harrier in south Scotland etc.)

  ——— The Peregrine Population in Great Britain in 1971. Bird Study 1972

  Reading Ornithological Club reports

  Renssen, T. A. Social Roosting of Long-winged Harriers (Circus buffoni) in Surinam. Ardea 1973

  Richards, G. A. Check List of the Birds of Ayrshire. 1960

  Richmond, W. K. British Birds of Prey. 1959

  Ritchie, J. The Influence of Man on Animal Life in Scotland. 1920

  Rouwenhorst, J. pers. comm. (Hen Harriers in the Netherlands.)

  Roxburgh, R. pers. comm. (Hen Harriers in Ayrshire.)

  Rudebeck, G. Studies on bird-migration based on field studies in southern Sweden. Var Fagelvärld suppl. 1. 1950

  Russow, K. E. Bruno Liljefors: an Appreciation. 1929

  Ruttledge, R. F. A List of the Birds of the Counties of Galway and Mayo. 1950

  ——— Ireland’s Birds. 1966

  Ryves, B. H. Bird Life in Cornwall. 1948

  Sage, B. L. Albinism and Melanism in Birds. British Birds 55. 1962

  St John, C. A Tour in Sutherlandshire. 1849. (1884 ed.)

  ——— Wild Sports and Natural History in the Highlands. 1893

  Saunders, Aretes A. A Study of the Nesting of the Marsh Hawk. Condor 15. 1913

  Saunders’ Manual of British Birds. ed. Eagle Clarke. 1927

  Saxby, H. L. The Birds of Shetland. 1874

  Scharf, W. C. and Balfour, E. Growth and Development of Nestling Hen Harriers. Ibis 113. 1971

  Schipper, W. J. A. A Comparative study of prey selection in Sympatric Harriers, Circus, in Western Europe. Le Gerfaut 63. 1973

  ——— Over het Voorkomen van Kiekendieven in Flevoland in 1971 en 1972. Limosa 46. 1973

  ——— pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in the Netherlands.)

  ——— Buurma, L. S. and Bossenbroek, P. H. A Comparative Study of Hunting Behaviour of Wintering Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus and Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus. Ardea 63. 1975

  Schnell, Gary D. Communal Roosts of Wintering Rough-legged Hawks. (Buteo lagopus) Auk 86. 1969

  Schofield, P. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Wales.)

  Scott, D. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Ireland.)

  Seago, M. J. pers. comm. (On a Hen Harrier breeding record in Norfolk.)

  Seebohm, H. Coloured Figures of the Eggs of British Birds. 1896

  Seigne, J. W. A Birdwatcher’s Notebook. 1930

  Selby, P. J. Illustrations of British Ornithology. 1825–33

  Service, R. The Diurnal and Nocturnal Raptorial Birds of the Solway Area. Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society 17. 4. 1903

  Shaw, G. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Central Scotland.)

  Sibbald, Sir R. Scotica Illustrata. 1684

  Sim, G. A Vertebrate Fauna of Dee. 1903

  Smith, R. W. J. pers. comm. (Records of Hen Harriers in the Outer Hebrides.)

  Smythies, B. E. The Birds of Burma. 2nd ed. 1953

  Southern, H. N. ed. Handbook of British Mammals. 1963

  Spencer, R. and Hudson, R. Report on Bird Ringing for 1973. Sp
ecial Supplement to Bird Study 22. 1975

  Stanford, J. K. A Bewilderment of Birds. 1954

  Stephen, D. Article on the breeding and food of Hen Harriers in a Scottish forest. The Scotsman, 29.7.1967

  Steyn, P. Some Black Harrier records. Ostrich 43. 1972

  ——— pers. comm. (On the Black Harrier.) (per Dr K. W. Brewster)

  Stirling, W. T. Hen Harrier in Mull in summer. Scottish Naturalist 63. 1951

  Stoddard, H. L. The Bob-White Quail, its habits, preservation and increase. 1931

  Strang, P. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Kintyre.)

  Svensson, L. Stäpphök C. Macrounus och ängshök C. pygargus—problemet att skilja dem åt. Var Fågelvärld 30. 1971

  Swann, H. K. A Dictionary of English and Folklore names of British Birds

  Swann, R. L. Communal Roosting of Robins in Aberdeenshire. Bird Study 22.2. 1975

  Talbot Kelly, R. B. Bird Life and the Painter. 1955

  Temperley, G. W. The Natural History of Raasay. Scottish Naturalist 63. 1951

  Terasse, J. H. Report on Working Conference on Birds of Prey. Caen. 1964

  Thompson, W. The Natural History of Ireland. 1849

  Thompson, Sir A. Landsborough. The migration of Birds of Prey as shown by ringing results. British Birds 51. 1958

  Tibble, J. W. and A. John Clare, A Life, 1932.

  ——— The prose of John Clare. 1951

  Ticehurst, N. F. Churchwardens’ Accounts of Tenterden. British Birds. 14.4.1920

  Tubbs, C. R. The Buzzard. 1974

  Tulloch, R. J. pers. comm. (Hen Harrier in Shetland.)

  Turnbull, W. P. The Birds of East Lothian and a portion of the surrounding counties. 1867

  Turner, B. S. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Kintyre.)

  Turner, Dr W. Avium Praecipuarum (1544). trans. A. H. Evans, 1903

  Urner, Charles A. Notes on two Ground-nesting Birds of Prey. (Short-eared Owl and Marsh Hawk.) Auk 42. 1925

  Urquhart, L. A. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Galloway and Arran.)

  Usher, R. J. and Warren, R. The Birds of Ireland. 1900

  Uttendorfer, O. Neue Ergebnisse über die Ernähung der Greifvögel und Eulen. 1952

  Vaurie, C. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. 1965

  Venables, L. S. V. and U. M. The Birds and Mammals of Shetland. 1955

  Voous, K. H. Atlas of European Birds. 1960

  Walker, A. F. G. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Yorkshire.)

  Walker, F. J. Roost of Hen Harriers in Walland Marsh. Kent Bird Report. 2.15. 1953

  Wallace, D. I. M. American Marsh Hawk in Norfolk. British Birds 64:12. 1971

  Walpole-Bond, J. Field Studies of Some Rarer British Birds. 1914

  Ward, P. and Zahavi, A. The importance of certain assemblages of birds as information centres for food hunting. Ibis 115. 1973

  Wassenich, V. Durchzug und Uberwinterung der Kornweihe. Regulus 9. 1968

  Watson, A. and Jenkins, D. Notes on the Behaviour of the Red Grouse. British Birds. 57:4. 1964

  Watson, A. Hill Birds of the Cairngorms. Scottish Birds. 4. 1966

  Watson, (A). Donald. A Raptorial Mystery. Scottish Birds. 5. 1969

  ——— Birds of Moor and Mountain. 1972

  Watson, A. D. and Dickson, R. C. Communal Roosting of Hen Harriers in Southwest Scotland. Scottish Birds. 7. 1972

  Watson, A. J. Feeding Ecology of Breeding Merlins, Falco Columbarius, in Southwest Scotland. (1973). Unpublished.

  ——— pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Orkney etc.)

  Weir, D. N. Insh Marshes. Birds 4:10. 1973

  Weis, Henning. Life of the Harrier in Denmark. 1923

  Weller, M. W., Adams, I. C. and Rose, B. J. Winter Roosts of Marsh Hawks and Short-eared Owls in Central Missouri. Wilson Bulletin, 67. 1955

  Whitaker, D. pers. comm. (Note on breeding behaviour.)

  White, Clayton M. pers. comm. (On the Marsh Hawk’s feeding habits in Utah.) (per Dr K. W. Brewster.)

  White, Gilbert. The Natural History of Selborne (1788). 1924 ed.

  Wilhelm, Eugene J. Jr. Marsh Hawk breeding in North-west Arkansas. Wilson Bulletin. 72. 1960

  Williams, Graham. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Wales.)

  Wilson’s American Ornithology. ed. Sir W. Jardine. 1876

  Witherby, H. F. et al. The Handbook of British Birds. 1938–41

  Wynne Edwards, V. C. Animal Dispersal in relation to Social Behaviour. 1962

  Yarrell’s British Birds. ed. Newton. Vol. 1. 1874

  Young, J. G. pers. comm. (On the Hen Harrier in Dumfriesshire.)

  Zahavi, A. The Functions of Pre-Roost Gatherings and Communal Roosts. Ibis 113. 1971

  Tables

  Table 1 Harriers of the World: Wing Lengths and Weights*

  Table 2 Hen Harrier Prey Identified in Britain and Ireland

  MAMMALS

  Mole Talpa europea

  Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus

  Rabbit Oryctogalus cuniculus

  Brown Hare Lepus europaeus

  Mountain Hare Lepus timidus

  Orkney Vole Microtus arvalis orcadensis

  Short-tailed Vole Microtus agrestis

  Water Vole Arvicola amphibius

  Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus

  House Mouse Mus musculus

  Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus

  Hedgehog Erinaeus europaeus

  REPTILES

  Lizard Lacerta sp

  Slow-worm Angius fragilis

  Adder Vipera berus

  AMPHIBIANS (Batrachia)

  Common Frog

  FISH Species not identified

  BIRDS

  Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

  Teal Anas crecca

  [Wigeon Anas penelope: identification probable (possibly Mallard), full-grown bird attacked, lifted and dropped]

  Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (young)

  Merlin Falco columbarius (young)

  Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (young)

  Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus

  Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus

  Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix (young)

  Partridge Perdix perdix

  Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

  Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

  Corncrake Crex crex

  Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

  Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

  Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

  Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

  Snipe Gallinago gallinago

  Woodcock Scolopax rusticola (young)

  Curlew Numenius arquata (young)

  Redshank Tringa totanus

  Dunlin Calidris alpina

  Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus (young)

  Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (young)

  Skylark Alauda arvensis

  Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

  Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

  Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

  Blackbird Turdus merula

  Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

  Stonechat Saxicola torquata

  Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

  Robin Erithacus rubecula (young)

  Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia (young)

  Whitethroat Sylvia communis (young)

  Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus or Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (young)

  [Dunnock Prunella modularis identification probable]

  Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

  Starling Sturnus vulgaris

  Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

  Linnet Acanthis cannabina

  Twite Acanthis flavirostris

  Redpoll Acanthis flammea

  Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

  Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

  Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

  Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

  Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

  Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

  Snow Bunting Plectophenax nivalis

  House Sparrow Passer domesticus

  Domestic Fowl
(young)

  Domestic Duck (young)

  Eggs of ground-nesting birds

  BEETLES

  Dor beetles:

  Geotrupes sylvaticus

  Geotrupes sterconarius

  Ground beetles:

  Carabus catenulatus

  [Carabus pterostichus (Identification probable)]

  Click beetles (Elaterids):

  Corymbites cupreus

  Campylus lineatus

  Great Diving Beetle Dytiscus marginalis

  Weevils Otiorrhynchus sp

  MOTHS

  Emperor Saturnia pavonia (cocoon)

  Table 3 Analyses for Organo-chlorine Residues Results expressed in parts per million net weight. (T = Trace)

  (per A. A. Bell, The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon)

  Table 4 Aggression of Adults in Relation to Nesting Success

  Table 5 First-Year and Older Birds Recovered Distantly

  Table 6 First-Year and Older Birds Recovered Distantly Sept.—April

  Table 7 First-Year and Older Birds Recovered Distantly May–August

  Table 8 Mortality of Hen Harriers after Fledging (from Ringing Recoveries)

  Table 9 Prey Identified at Nest from a Hide

  Table 10 Details of Eggs and Young at Hen Harrier Nests on Moorland and Forest Study Area in south-west Scotland from 1959 to 1975

  Table 11 Average Number of Young Fledged per Nest with Eggs in Moorland and Forest Sites

  Table 12 Number and Percentage of Nests in which Eggs Hatched and Young Fledged

  Table 13 Number and Percentage of Young Hatched and Fledged at Nests from which Complete Data Available

  Table 14 Failed Nests (with eggs or young)

  Table 15 Details of Failed Nests with Eggs or Young, with some Reason for Failure

  Table 16 Analysis of Eggs from Nest No.4

  Total Chlorinated residues c. 2.7, 2.1 and 1.8.

  (per A. A. Bell, The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology,

  Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon)

  Tables 17–23 summarise prey identifications made in the breeding season in Areas A,B,C and E. Because the findings from prey remains and pellets are subject to different biases they have been treated separately.