Booted Eagle, Red billed Chough and Glossy Ibis, Cornwall, mid Jan 2025

Booted Eagles ( Hieraaetus pennatus ) are sometimes seen in the UK as rare vagrants, primarily due to their migratory behavior. These medium-sized birds of prey typically breed in southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, migrating to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter. Occasionally, individuals stray northward due to navigation errors, strong winds, or dispersal of young birds exploring new territories. Climate change and shifting migration patterns may also contribute to their occasional presence in the UK. Sightings remain rare but are increasing, particularly along the southern coast. This individual has been in the South West for several weeks. We headed off with limited expectations of spotting the bird but were lucky enough to catch sight of it twice. The light was very poor and the bird was reasonably distant but the pictures were clear enough to identify the bird. The other birders pointing it out, was added confirmation that we had the right bird! Red-billed chou...