RARITY PREDICTOR

Megas can and do occur at any time of year. Here are three birds which fit in that category and, though very rare, could be on the cards during this month.

NORTHERN HARRIER

This is the North American equivalent of the Hen Harrier. There have been about 15 accepted UK records, most around this time of year. Similar to Hen Harrier, but adult males have distinctive patterning (with brown streaking on the breast and on back and wings). First-winters are patterned more like Montagu’s or Pallid Harrier.

CRAG MARTIN

This common southern European species is a very rare bird in the UK, with only 11 accepted records. A few have been in autumn, including the bird around Chesterfield’s cathedral for nearly two weeks in November 2015.

ELEONORA’S FALCON

Hardly a year goes by without a claim of Eleonora’s Falcon somewhere in the country. However, of the seven accepted records, only one was found as late as this, or just shy of it, having been found dead in late October in East Yorkshire (in 1981). These are like larger, long-tailed versions of Hobbies.