Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (0, 4)

Photo © Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

STATUS

South-west Europe and north-west Africa to central Asia and northern India; also South Africa. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

The first six records were added to Category D of this migratory species that breeds as close as southern Spain. However, the influx during 2024 and 2025 has changed the BOURC minds and have now become the first records.

This second record for Britain was confirmed from a photograph while a mass migration of Red Kites (500+) was taking place over Cornwall in 2024.

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BBRC RECORDS

1.0). 1999 Kent St Margaret's at Cliffe, 28th September; also seen Cornwall, Somerset, Avon and Orkney 1999/2000.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 525; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 528; BOURC (2026) Ibis 168: in prep.).

1.1). 1999 Cornwall Porthgwarra and Drift Reservoir area, 26th October to 6th November, probably since 23rd October, photo; same, Marazion, 8th to 9th November; same, Tremethick Cross, 11th November; same as Kent.

(J. Willmott, Birding World 12 (11): 444-447, photos; Birding World 12 (12): 495, photo; British Birds 92: plate 287; British Birds 93: plates 285 & 286; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 525; Birds in Cornwall 1999: photo; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 528; BOURC (2026) Ibis 168: in prep.).

1.2). 2000 Somerset Avalon Marshes, 6th to 9th February, probably since 2nd February, photo; same as 1999 Kent.

(Birding World 13 (2): 51, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 525; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 528; BOURC (2026) Ibis 168: in prep.).

1.3). 2000 Avon Chew Valley Lake area, 11th to 12th February, photo; same as 1999 Kent.

(Birding World 13 (12): 484, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 525; Avon Bird Report 2000: photo; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 527; BOURC (2026) Ibis 168: in prep.).

1.4). 2000 Kent Dungeness, 7th April; same, Cliffe, 8th April; same as 1999 Kent.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 525; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 527; BOURC (2026) Ibis 168: in prep.).

1.5). 2000 Orkney Ancum, North Ronaldsay, 22nd June; same as 1999 Kent.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 525; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 114; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 528; BOURC (2026) Ibis 168: in prep.).

2). 2024 Cornwall Cape Cornwall, St Just, 2CY+, dark-morph, 20th May, photo.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 527).

3.0). 2024 Cornwall Nanquidno, 1CY, pale-morph, 10th to 11th October, photo.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 527, plate 312).

4.0). 2024 Oxfordshire Warburg NR, 1CY, dark-morph, 31st October; same, Henley-on-Thames, 2nd November; also seen Berkshire, Buckinghamshire.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 527).

4.1). 2024 Berkshire Remenham Hill then Remenham, 1CY, dark-morph, 1st to 2nd November; same as Oxfordshire; also seen Buckinghamshire.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 527).

4.2). 2024 Buckinghamshire Fawley Court, 1CY, dark-morph, 2nd November, photo; same as Oxfordshire; also seen Berkshire.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 527).

3.1). 2025 Cornwall Marazion Marsh RSPB, Crowlas, Rospeath, Whitecross and Hayle, 2CY, pale-morph, 12th January to 12th March, photo; same, St Buryan, Bartinney Downs, Sancreed and Geevor, 25th to 31st March, photo; also seen Avon, Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk; same as Cornwall 2024.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 578, plate 410).

3.2). 2025 Avon Pilning Wetland, Severnside, 2CY, pale-morph, 22nd March; also seen Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk, same as Cornwall 2024.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 578).

3.3). 2025 Kent Broadstairs and Cliffsend, 2CY, pale-morph, 10th to 11th April, photo; also seen Avon, Cornwall, Norfolk and Suffolk; same as Cornwall 2024.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 578).

3.4). 2025 Norfolk Beeston Bump, Sheringham, 2CY, pale-morph, 14th April; same, between Glandford and Cley-next-the-Sea, 20th April, photo; same, Horsey Mill and East Somerton, 2CY, 10th May; same, Kelling, Salthouse Heath and Bayfield, 25th May, photo; also seen Avon, Cornwall, Kent and Suffolk; same as Cornwall 2024.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 578).

4.3). 2025 Devon Lundy, 2CY, dark-morph, 29th to 30th April; also seen Berkshire, Buckinghamshire; same as Oxfordshire 2024.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 578).

3.5). 2025 Suffolk Carlton Marshes SWT, 2CY, pale-morph, 7th May; same, Carlton Marshes SWT, 11th May, photo; same, RAF Lakenheath, 21st May, photo; also seen Avon, Cornwall, Kent and Norfolk; same as Cornwall 2024.

(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 578).

P). 2026 Suffolk Lowestoft, pale-morph, 16th April.

(birding information services).

P). 2026 Cornwall Porthgwarra, dark-morph, 27th April, photo; same, Land’s End, dark-morph, 26th May.

(birding information services).

P). 2026 Devon St Marychurch, Exeter, pale-morph, 24th June.

(birding information services).