If you read my post further back on this thread, you'll see that my wildlife wish has been to see a Red Kite here in Kensworth (a village on the edge of the Chilterns Hills, a mile or two from both Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Zoo). I was born and brought up here, and moved back in with my parents about three years ago. Since then I've been doing lots of long walks in the countryside, both in the Chilterns and elsewhere. It has been a real delight to see the Red Kites further west in the Chilterns - I get a real buzz whenever I see them, and have longed for them to spread eastwards to where I live. About 9-10 months ago, I saw one behind Whipsnade Church only a mile or so from home, but since then the nearest I've seen one was between Dagnall and Edlesborough, about five miles away.
I bought a new camera recently, and have been spending some time in the garden taking photos of birds on and around the various feeders. I was out there for about an hour this morning - nothing at all unusual in the way of visiting birds, but I was pleased to get some better shots of a Dunnock. Then I saw a large bird in the sky, to the right of our garden and over the paddock that our row of houses backs on to. I assumed it would be a Buzzard, as I see them here quite frequently. But almost immediately I spotted the forked tail, and realised that at last I'd seen a Red Kite in Kensworth! So I've achieved my wildlife wish - I was so excited, I dragged my parents out of the house so they could see it too!
Very fortunate that when I finally got to see a Red Kite here, I actually had my camera to hand, switched on and set up for photographing birds! The bird was some way off and quite high up, so the photo is heavily cropped and not too good, but it's recognisably a Red Kite, which is all that matters to me.
It's been quite a day for birds - apart from the Red Kite, I've already posted on the Birds Forum about a Long-tailed Tit (my second favourite bird) tapping on the window this morning! So I think I'll keep the camera firmly-focussed on the goldfish pond this afternoon, just in case a Bittern pops up!
