BLACK-WINGED KITE!! - 21.7.23

Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite has been spreading north from it’s Mediterranean breeding areas for a few years and is even breeding as close as Calais in northern France so it was predicted that we’d soon be graced with one on our shores. In April one was reported from Suffolk but seen from a moving car and not seen again despite the driver turning around to go back and have a look. A couple of days later it finally happened when one was filmed hovering over a field in Powys of all places! This bird was almost a on a dead straight line to the west from the Suffolk report so potentially the same bird? Unfortunately it only showed to the two finders and we all thought we’d missed our chance. 

Fast forward to 17th July and late in the evening the mega alert went off with reports of one having been seen well near Hickling in Norfolk. Those who could get the day off work/retired were on site before dawn the next day and were eventually rewarded with distant views but then better views were had near Horsey windmill. Not long after it flew north being seen flying over the Bee-eater breeding site (3 birds had returned to breed again) near Trimingham and that was it for the day. 

To peoples relief it was back at Horsey again on the mornings of 19 + 20th before again flying off. With this news I booked the day off work but that evening Craig Holden broke the news that he’d found a Black-winged Kite on his patch near Felixstowe Ferry in Suffolk some 50 odd miles to the south and it was seen to roost. 

I was up at 2am and headed east joining the line of birders at 4.50am to be told it was on view perched in a bush. I got it in the scope and laid eyes on my first ever BLACK-WINGED KITE. Around 5.15am it took flight heading east stopping occasionally hovering then dropped out of view behind a mound in the field. George and Matt Moreton were on their way and didn’t like the news when I told them! Luckily for them and some latecomers it was quickly re found perched in a dead tree showing down to 20 yards or so. 

The stunning mix of white, grey and black shone in the sun and its piercing red eyes were stunning. Whilst watching it a couple of Bittern got up and flew past us and I heard a single call of a Quail over the chatter of the birders. After a couple of hours the other two had to leave for work so I headed off for home at the same time. 

Photos of the bird in flight showed it to be the same bird as in Norfolk and so was still the 2nd record for Britain. I arrived home about 9.30am had a celebratory cup of tea and a short sleep!