I went for a walk down Deep Dale this afternoon with a friend and saw a raptor quartering the slopes while on our way up the dale. Initially I assumed it was a buzzard, but when it it came closer I was suprised to see it was actually a harrier! It flew down the dale and was mobbed by a kestrel briefly then disappeared from view around the bend.

It was very dark almost black in appearance on the upper and under wings and tail, with some paleness around the head, but not much. It could only be a juvenile marsh harrier. The bird was likely moving through on passage, possibly en-route to Africa for the winter.  I am not certain where the nearest breeding site is to here, but I know they breed in reedbeds and cereal crops along the Humber and in the eastern counties. A good record for Sheldon!