A Very Long New Years Eve - Black-winged Kite, December 2025

With the Black-winged Kite seemingly showing well in Norfolk, I was keen to get better views of this species which was only new to Britain a couple of years ago.  The bird in Norfolk, and later Essex, in 2023 proved very popular, but I only had brief distant views of it.

After a long overnight drive, I arrived just after dawn at Ludham Bridge, Norfolk, and walked up the path along the river Ant, to where the bird was generally seen hunting from time to time.  A couple of hours passed and there was no sign of the Kite.  A few birders had continued up the river, and after a while a report filtered through that it was showing well about a mile further along.  After what seemed like a long trek, the bird cam into view sitting on one of the few small trees in amongst a large reedbed.

We had great views but only for a few minutes as the Kite  then flew off west and then seemed to head back to where we were orignally stood earlier that morning. 

After walking south again, the bird was nowhere to be seen at the original location, so I headed back to the car park and drove to nearby St Benet's Abbey where is had sometimes been seen hunting.  There as no sign of the bird there, although a couple of common Cranes where feeding in nearby fields.

After relocating back to the orginal site, the bird was soon on show again, giving great views, preforming well and seen hunting and capturing prey, and eating it in a row of poplar trees.  The Kite finally headed south and it was time to head home, It had been a nice way to end the year.  Somehow, despite having no sleep the night before, eight hours birding and eight hours driving, I even made it out for midnight to see in the new year.

Thanks for looking.