Rare Black-Winged Kite Sighting Confirmed in Jersey

The presence of a rare black-winged kite has been observed in Jersey. Ornithologists have stated that this is the second instance of the bird being seen on the island, following a previous sighting over Noirmont in October 2018. Romano da Costa, the ornithology recorder for Société Jersiaise, suggested that the small bird of prey likely deviated from its intended southerly migration path. He noted that these kites typically inhabit Africa, Asia, Spain, Portugal, and France, but have recently extended their range northward, establishing breeding grounds as near as Mont St Michel. Thomas Frazer, a birdwatcher, identified the kite at the location known as the Scrape. Mr da Costa stated: “This is only the second ever record in Jersey and the fourth for the Channel Islands. The previous Jersey record was October 2018 over Noirmont and the other two CI records were in Alderney in 2020. They disperse from their breeding areas in autumn and usually head south. This one was likely heading south and got pushed over with the easterly winds we had at the end of last week.” The RSPB characterized the kite by its “long, elegant wings and big red eyes” and noted its diet consists of prey including crickets, lizards, and rodents.