Bird seen before circling north (4)
I believe the answer is:
erne
'bird' is the definition.
(erne is a type of bird)
'before circling north' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term).
'circling' indicates putting letters inside (circling can mean going around or containing).
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'ere' going around 'n' is 'ERNE'.
'seen' is the link.
(Other definitions for erne that I've seen before include "White-tailed eagle" , "one that catches fish?" , "European sea eagle" , "bird of prey" , "Lough of the North" .)