Rare black-winged kite spotted in Jersey

A rare black-winged kite has been spotted in Jersey.

Ornithologists said it was the second seen in the island after a first was seen over Noirmont in October 2018.

Société Jersiaise ornithology recorder Romano da Costa said he thought the small bird of prey had probably been pushed off its southerly migration course.

He said the kites were found in Africa, Asia, Spain, Portugal and France but, in recent years, had expanded northwards and bred as close as Mont St Michel.

Birdwatcher Thomas Frazer spotted the kite at the Scrape.

Mr da Costa said: "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 described the kite as having "long, elegant wings and big red eyes" and a diet of prey such as crickets, lizards and rodents.

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