| Re: Red Kite chasing Kestrel
Thanks for your reply, Chris.
Yes, I've seen birds (usually some members of the crow family) mobbing Kites (and I've seen them mobbing Buzzards, too). As you say, it could just be the Kite got fed up with it and retaliated - it certainly appeared to be intent on doing some harm to the Kestrel.
I walked near Stokenchurch quite recently (I was walking the Chiltern Way, as I was when I saw the Kite and Kestrel at Hambleden) - I didn't see as many as you did, but I did see at least 20 Red Kites as I scanned the skies, the most I've ever seen. Most of them were in or over hay meadows that had just been cut - they seemed attracted to them for some reason, several of them flew up from the freshly cut hay as I went by.
I saw on TV recently that people have been asked to stop putting food out for the Red Kites in the Chilterns, as it is believed to be hindering their natural dispersion. I hope they continue to spread, as I live towards the Northeastern end of the Chilterns and they are nowhere near as easy to see here as in the South Bucks and Oxon part of the Chilterns. They are definitely getting here slowly - the nearest to my home I've seen them is about a mile away at Whipsnade, while a couple of neighbours say they have seen them from their gardens. I really look forward to the time when I can see them regularly from my garden, they are my favourite bird and I think they are magnificent.
Pete  |