Black-winged Kite - UK First

[The W]

A new one to add to the British bird list. Never seen one myself but they look like stunning birds.

View: https://BANNED/BirdGuides/status/1648290330935017472


View: https://BANNED/RDMECOLOGY/status/1648262584506695685


ebird range map: https://ebird.org/species/bkskit1
Mostly the Iberian Peninsula and south-west France, but with increased sightings throughout Europe.

 

[mex]

It's been expected with an increasing number of records on the near continent. What a bird, but like a number of other species I wonder, will it be long before they are a regular visitor to our shores?

 

[mex]

.....and not seen since.

 

[jerry12953]

Apparently the species can breed several times a year(!) so once it gains a foothold in an area it can increase very quickly.