Large Bird of Prey

[LoveT]

I think I'm late with my contribution (as usual ).

This is a Black Kite:


And this is a Red Kite:


Both photographed over North Hampshire (but the Black Kite is one of a group used for flying display, so wouldn't normally seen in the Hampshire countryside!).

Welcome to WAB.

Thea

[lol geoff]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

My daughter saw, amongst others watching them too, 5 Buzzards circling very close to the M20 over fields a week back.

Where abouts was that Julie? I woldn't mind seeing that.

[oldbird]

Just been in Biddenden (Kent) where we saw a large bird of prey which my daughter is convinced was a red kite. It definitely had a forked tail and a reddish colour. She says it had the right markings for a red kite too. I can't see well enough myself! Took a picture but it is distant and unclear, sadly.

What do you think?

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by oldbird

Just been in Biddenden (Kent) where we saw a large bird of prey which my daughter is convinced was a red kite. It definitely had a forked tail and a reddish colour. She says it had the right markings for a red kite too. I can't see well enough myself! Took a picture but it is distant and unclear, sadly.

What do you think?

Hi oldbird,

That description suggests a Red Kite to me, and I can't think what else it could be. As you can see from the posts on this thread, they are spreading out across the country and have certainly been seen in Kent before.

Welcome to WAB, by the way!

[Metrognome]

Hi

I also saw the Red Kite yesterday over New Ash Green (near Brands Hatch) What a brilliant bird.
I rang Eagle Heights this morning and they said they don't have any missing birds and that we do now sometimes get Red Kites in this area.

[Digit]

I thought it was quite normal to swerve in stupid places!

It is for me! Been there, done that....etc
Sorry officer, I was just staring at a bird!

Roy.

[rmurrayevans]

Hello, new member here.
Midday, 5th June '09, M20 twixt Maidstone and Leeds Castle,
one red kite swooping over the motorway.
Leeds Castle does have a collection of birds, and Eagle Heights is only
6 miles away......... thought I was on the M40 for a mom!!
Cheers

[davidcarman]

Hi all

Travelling north on M40 Thursday 11th Feb I was amazed to see at least 6 large birds of prey, mostly brown coloured, with deeply forked tails.

They were diving down at roadkill (badgers, whatever) on the motorway, dodging the traffic

It looked as though there was one casualty, feathers everwhere, but I couldn't get the image of these birds out of my head

I have never seen such large birds of prey, and so many in such a short distance of about 10 miles of motorway

In case you are thinking it was the same one - not unless they can fly in a straight line at 70mph over a 10 mile stretch of motorway.

I'm thinking Red Kite (prominent fork in tail and brown plumage) but so many in an urban area? Perhaps they are part of a breeding/release programme in the area?

I'd love to hear from anyone else who may have seen them in the area.

Great site by the way

David Carman (Rugby, Warks)

[Picidae]

Hi Dave

These will be part of Chiltern Red Kites that have spread out in successive years. They can be seen regularly when driving up and down the M40 south of Oxford. Last time I made the trip I counted 23 Red Kites from the car.

Shame about the possible road casualty.

redkites.net : Welcome to the red kite site.

Welcome to WAB

[John]

If you get off at the Stokenchurch junction of the M40 and park on the bridge over the motorway you may be in for a pleasant surprise. I have had 50+ birds at a time there.

Last November, on my way to Heathrow, I stopped there and had at least 30+ birds over my head. I drove a little way along the road (going westward) and then turned into the village and down to the dead end (which stops at the slip road off the Motorway and had five of them no higher that twenty five feet above my head. Fabulous moments.

John