Back in 2017, a very thorough paper appeared in Dutch Birding detailing the extraordinary range expansion of Black-winged Kites in both Israel (from 1 to 150 breeding pairs in less than five years) and France (a threefold increase between 2010 and 2014), accompanied by a strong increase in vagrancy elsewhere, especially in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The authors of that paper concluded that we could "expect a further expansion of the breeding population's range...to eastern and northern France" but not even they predicted breeding in Belgium. Well, the unthinkable has happened and, last week, a pair were found nesting in the Hautes Fagnes! Above is a habitat shot of the area but, if you look closely, you can just about see a white blob at the top of the two conifers on either side of the photo. They are nesting at the centre of a nature reserve with no access but the path around the periphery allows for good, albeit distant views, and I got to see them mating, hunting, and taking turns on the nest. In this heavily cropped image, you can even make out the black wings and mask on one of the birds.
They are known to breed all year, but this is exceptionally late so fingers crossed it doesn't get too cold for them too soon.
Having got my fill of my 316th species in Belgium, I continued the lovely walk around the nature reserve, seeing my first Great Grey Shrike of the year as well as several Red Kites and two late Swifts, while this pair of Black Darters were also busy ensuring the next generation.
