Rare bird of prey sighting in Hampshire officially confirmed - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

A rare bird of prey spotted at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve near Southampton has been officially confirmed as a pallid harrier. It is believed to be the first sighting of an adult male pallid harrier in Hampshire.

The elusive bird was photographed by Simon King in April 2025, whilst bird watching from a hill at the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Wildlife nature reserve.

The sighting has taken until now to be verified by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), the official body responsible for assessing rare bird records in the UK. Confirmation can take time because pallid harriers need to be carefully distinguished from similar birds, including hybrids between pallid and hen harriers.

Pallid harriers (Circus macrourus), which breed mainly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, are exceptionally rare visitors to the UK. The Testwood Lakes sighting is also thought to be the first ever recorded in the Test Valley area.

Simon King, Assistant Reserves Officer at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said: “This was a once in a lifetime moment. I’ve been birdwatching at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve for over 15 years, and in all that time I’ve never experienced anything quite like this. Seeing a pallid harrier so close was truly extraordinary. It’s a slender, elegant raptor with distinctive black wingtip wedges, and I recognised it immediately as it flew alongside me. These are exceptionally rare visitors, and it was a real privilege to witness one here in Hampshire.”