Large Bird of Prey

[simple]

Hi All,

I saw a large bird of prey today soaring over the motorway. Huge wingspan, bigger than a buzzard, dark with white patches under the wings, feathery wings, forked tail. My first thoughts were that it was a red kite, but as this was in Kent I am not so sure.

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[Tursiops2]

Hallo simple and welcome to the forum. That sounds good for red kite, and one in Kent is quite credible. The reintroduced birds are great wanderers and turn up all over southern UK. Alternatively it could be a wanderer from the Continent, and there have also been a few black kites in the country this spring. RK seems most likely.

Tursiops2

[John]

Certainly sounds like a Kite species. If you manage to see one again count the fingers (the feathers at the end of their wings). Red Kite have five, Black Kite have six.

Red Kites tail is also more forked than the Black Kite. There are a few more differences but those two (especially the fingers) should nail the ID.

John

[Ann2]

Hello and welcome, simple.

And thank you John, very useful and informative. I'm learning all the time on WAB.

Ann

[demicav]

Sounds like a Red Kite. Black kites lack the forked tail, it would be more square. Fantastic bird.

[lol geoff]

It might have been a bird from Eagle Heights at Eynesford....They are very near to the M25.

[jezlee]

Is a Red Kite's wingspan bigger than a buzzards? My first thoughts would have been smaller, but I'd like to know one way or the other ...

[zharca]

Originally Posted by lol geoff

It might have been a bird from Eagle Heights at Eynesford....They are very near to the M25.

........so the Golden Eagle at Farningham isn't a tick then?


bum

Can i still count the vulture?


Seriously though, that area is close to Marsh Harrier territory. One of the few places where you say oh,a harrier, wow! a buzzard. Could it be a male? They will soar given the right weather.

[simple]

Thanks all, I'm pretty sure it was a red kite now. The forked tail was very prominent, it was over the M2 and quite far away from Eynsford, and definitely not a buzzard or harrier.

Jezlee, from what I've read the buzzard's wingspan is about 1m and the red kite's is 1.5 - 2m. I could be wrong though.

John, lets hope I don't see it again because I might cause a pile up while I try to count the fingers!

[zharca]

Hi, that's a terrific sighting for North Kent and one I would have thought worth contacting the recorders about, especially if it turns out they got other reports as well.

My mum lives in Gravesend and we're taking her out on Sunday. Bet it's not still around!