Hi David
to me there is something that strikes me as odd, I am sure you have identified this bird correct, as you have seen it well, but you might be able to clear something for me (and others who think it is at little tricky with female-type harriers) I see the axillaries (sory for spelling) very montagus like, typically montagus female has the males red and white barred axilleries those markings seems to continue on the birds flanks. Also the streks on breast and flanks look like montagus harrier. I think the head and neck also could fit montagus. to me jizz is okay for montagus. But the primary lock good for pallid - how has you identified this one?

Best regards

Peter H. Kristensen (who likes 1-2 year harriers better!)

- og jeg synes det er en god ide med engelske kommentar på trods af at jeg nu forstår mine karaktere i engelsk på gymnasiet bedre!!

Jeg kunne godt tænke mig at se en oversættelse til Dansk.

Hvorfor skriver I engelsk til David. Han forstår og taler et udemærket dansk.

Her hvad Google translate kan byde på (jeg fralægger mig ethvert ansvar):

Oversættelse fra Engelsk til Dansk
Hej David
mig der er noget, forekommer mig at være underligt, jeg er sikker på at du har identificeret denne fugl korrekt, som du har set det godt, men du kan blive i stand til at klare noget for mig (og andre, der synes, det er på lidt tricky med kvindelige -type katte) Jeg kan se det axillaries (sorisk for stavning) meget montagus gerne, typisk montagus kvindelige har hannerne røde og hvide spærret axilleries disse mærker synes at fortsætte på fuglene flankerne. Også streks på bryst og flanker ligne montagus Harrier. Jeg tror, at hoved og hals også kunne passe montagus. til mig jizz er okay for montagus. Men det primære lås godt for blege - hvordan har du identificeret denne?

Venlig hilsen

Peter H. Kristensen (der kan lide 1-2 år katte bedre!)

- OG jeg synes DET ER EN gud ide MED engelske kommentar in trods AF på jeg Nu forstår mine karaktere i Engelsk in gymnasiet Bedres!

The second-outermost primary is incredibly short on this bird giving the bird an even more falcon-like appearance - which is classic for Pallid Harrier. The head-markings may not be spot on typical for Pallid but seems allright though. The three-coloured underwing is a dead ringer for Pallid and the innermost primaries are immaculate and unmarked. Concerning the axillaries I think they are a quite difficult to see and I suspect the barred red and white appearance may possibly be some kind of artefact of light.

One diagnostic Montagus-character, the dark band on the secondaries close to the wing-coverts, is clearly visible on the far right photo, second from below.
The bird is obviously still growing its wings and tail, making conclusions about the relative lenght of the primaries irrelevant.
Based on these photos I would not go out on a limb and claim Pallid.

I guess a second-calender year bird? More pictures here:
http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery_imageinfo.asp?obsid=19915636

Photos available from 'Svalan' taken at Falsterbo-kanalen the same day, show a typical Pallid according to the well-defined and diagnostic features of the underwing.
The comments from Sebastian seem to fit these much better, and if the bird depicted here is indeed the same individual (there is no sign of moult on the bird from kanalen, as I believe there is here), the id. from David seems fully justified.

The photo is darkish, associating the
bird with Pallid. Similarly the apparently
broad arm.

In the field and camera, conditions may
be suboptimal.
____________________

Dansk : Mørk fugl (og billede...) + bred
arm peger vel på Steppeh.?

KR / VH / Thx to DAVID
.............. C.