The bird was picked up over Kex Gill Moor using just bins. The first impression was of a large raptor being mobbed by two Carrion Crows which were noticeably smaller and shorter and slimmer winged than the harrier. The wings were broad and parallel in width but also relatively long and more rounded at the tip than hen harrier and the wingbeats were deep, purposeful and quite elastic.

The plumage was essentially mid-brown. On the upperwing the primaries had a black chunk on the end and not just tipped with black and there was a large paler area around the primary bases. The underwing was much paler, almost white with a heavy contrast between this and the black primary chunk. The underwing pattern being the easiest plumage feature to pick out at this distance. The bird was no white on the rump.

The bird was taking a few flaps of the wings and then circling gradually gaining height and drifting north or northwest. Although the crows were mobbing it the harrier did not seem to take much notice and carried calmly on its way.

The bird was picked up flying low over the flat moor just to the west of the quarry from the banking by the derelict buildings. Flight consisted of three or four deep, languid wing-beats followed by a glide on wings which were held in a pronounced ‘V’. The bird was always flying very low over the ground and was pursued by a “swarm” of mobbing meadow pipits. Nothing to judge size (other than the meadow pipits) but the bird was instantly recognised as a “large raptor”.

The elegant outline, emphasised by relatively long tail eliminated Common Buzzard. This species was also ruled out by the longer and more slender wings which were more tapering towards the end instead of rounded and bulging. The wings and body were however too chunky and rounded looking for Hen Harrier with the wing beats and flight style deeper and more powerful and less buoyant than Hen Harrier.

Plumage looked all dark except was obvious paler head and leading edge to the wing.