Last Chance?

Thursday March 

We were late, the wind was strong and gusting - and the bird had not been reported today. We still went. Reading Sue Bryan's Blog yesterday had triggered the idea. Although she talked of walking half a mile along a very muddy river bank, there was an outside chance that the bird could be seen from Ludham Bridge. One report - although not recent - had it actually flying over the bridge itself. 

We drove into the small car park looking to the north, going as far as we could along the river bank. A Scottish birder trudged towards us, no he hadn't seen the bird and had been there an hour. Several boats came and went, mostly manoevering in situ, only one disappearing along the river. Maybe a boat ride would be a good idea. One male, and a female Marsh Harrier brought bins to eyes in hope. I ate my lunch. Laughing Cow cream cheese on multi seed Ryvita. A cry of  'I've got it'  from Pam caused instant panic. The Black-winged Kite was flying towards us along the river, crossing behind a large tree on the far bank. I raised my camera but it did not re-appear as I'd expected. Pam had one further view of it low behind the reeds. Not crippling views but more than good enough for a tick on the UK list. A long time since we've had one of those. Jammy. This bird has been in the Hickling area  since late 2025, in an area inaccessible to us.

The four birders still watching from further north must also have seen the bird, as it came out on Birdguides at 12.25. We waited for another quarter of an hour before leaving, Pam had an appointment with the hairdresser.

 BTO

A very rare vagrant to the UK, first recorded during 2023. This medium-sized raptor has a mostly southerly range, being found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and extending into southeast Asia. In Europe it has been historically restricted to Iberia but since 1990 has bred in France, and more recently has colonised the Netherlands. The expanding range was foreshadowed by several overshooting migrants and the species has been long anticipated as a vagrant to the UK.

The first British record was seen by just two lucky individuals, in Montgomeryshire in April 2023. It or another individual then toured East Anglia during July 2023.

 I wish this was my photo!