Red Kite chasing Kestrel

[Pete Collins]

A few weeks ago I went for a walk near Hambleden, near the Thames in the south of Buckinghamshire - a great place for seeing Red Kites. At one point on my walk, I saw two birds flying downhill across a field, one very low to the ground and the other a little way behind it and a bit higher off the ground. My immediate reaction was to assume they were both Red Kites as I'd already seen so many of them that day, but then I realised the first bird was far too small and I realised it was a Kestrel. It was clearly being chased by a Red Kite! The Kestrel turned sharply a couple of times as it flew low over the field, trying to shake off its pursuer, and eventually managed to reach the sfety of some small bushes in a hedge, where the much larger bird couldn't get it.

I wondered why the Kite was chasing the Kestrel - has anyone any suggestions? Is this a known aversion between the species? I know Kites and Buzzards seem to share habitat quite hapily, as I've seen them in the sky together several times - in fact I'd just seen them together over the same field where I saw the Kestrel.

[Chiltern Chris]

Hi,

I’m lucky enough to see kites most days and various birds are often mobbing them. Normally carrion crows but I also seen them being mobbed by many other birds including a kestrel once and sometimes even LBJs – David and Goliath style. Mostly they just fly off but occasionally they don’t turn the other cheek, or wing and have a go back at the bird that’s mobbing them. It’s not very scientific but from casual observation the kites can just get fed –up with being mobbed. Maybe the kestrel had been mobbing the kite for too long and the kite had just had enough and was giving the kestrel a bit of its own medicine. As you say the kites and buzzards seem to tolerate each other, maybe it’s because the buzzards normally soar at a higher altitude than the kites. It’s almost like air traffic control with the buzzards at least twice as high as the kites.

Hambleden is a good place to watch them as some of the valleys are quite quiet and the kites often roost in the trees on the valley side. I love watching the kites but last week I was between Stokenchurch (close to the original release site) and High Wycombe and saw about 40 – 50 kites circling very low over a garden close to the M40. Obviously someone has been feeding them regularly and although the sight was impressive and almost overwhelming as I went under them, it looked totally unnatural and wrong. It felt like having released the birds into the wild they were now being used. Seeing kites soaring over a patchwork of fields is a thing of beauty, but this gathering just looked awful to me. Also in the long term it doesn’t help spread the population’s natural range if too much food is left out for them.

Chris

[Pete Collins]

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

[Chiltern Chris]

I’m also disappointed by their slow spread north. I used to live in Stokenchurch and saw kites over my garden every day. Now I’m nearer Wendover and only see them occasionally over the house, although they are regularly seen daily over Princes Risborough and Chequers. They’ve also spread across the Chiltern dip slope south towards Reading and I often see them in Emmer Green on Reading’s outskirts. It may be that they prefer the field structure of the dip slope rather than the open downland towards Whipsnade or the beech woodlands along the escarpment and that’s what’s keeping them in the south.

Cheers, Chris

[mikebrown]

Last time I was down in South Bucks (last Winter) I even saw Red Kites over chalfont St. Peter, which is fairly close to the London border.

Mike Brown

[Pete Collins]

Thanks for your comments Chris and Mike.

I've not seen them at Chalfont St Peter when I've walked there a couple of times, but have seen them a few miles north of there, just the other side of Chalfont St Giles.

They have certainly spread south towards the Thames, I've certainly seen them fairly close to Reading and Henley (I recently walked the Chiltern Way, part of which goes through that area). I'm sure I heard (but did not see one) a couple of years ago near Denham, within the M25.

I have walked near Wendover several times, and often drive through it to get to other parts of the Chilterns (it's about 25 minutes drive from where I live). I've seen Red Kites a few miles south of there, near Great and Little Hampden. They also seem to be doing well north of Wendover (and therefore north of the Chilterns) in parts of the Vale of Aylesbury - I've seen them over a school in Waddesdon, and up to 5 or 6 of them over the adjoining estates of Waddesdon and Eythrope Park, as well as several over places in that area.

I've seen them twice east of where I live (Kensworth, a village just behind Dunstable Downs and close to Whipsnade Zoo), including at Pegsdon, which is a small village close to Hitchin, pretty much at the most north-eastern point of the Chilterns.

Pete

[za64]

i see them all the time in slough, burnham and maidenhead.
also seeing lots more sparrowhawks than usual.

za

[Ann2]

It can't be long before you see red kites over your house Pete. I've seen quite a few at Dagnall, I think they are being fed there. (I don't live at Dagnall but work takes me there sometimes.)

Are there any more "locals" on here? This thread seems to be bringing us all out of the woodwork.

Ann

[vinnychameleon]

Originally Posted by Chiltern Chris

sometimes even LBJs

Chris

Hi sorry off subject but i was just wondering what an LBJ is I had to ask otherwise it would bug me for ages Thanks

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by vinnychameleon

Hi sorry off subject but i was just wondering what an LBJ is I had to ask otherwise it would bug me for ages Thanks

Little brown jobs! Like larks, warblers, pipits, etc.

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by Ann2

It can't be long before you see red kites over your house Pete. I've seen quite a few at Dagnall, I think they are being fed there. (I don't live at Dagnall but work takes me there sometimes.)

Are there any more "locals" on here? This thread seems to be bringing us all out of the woodwork.

Ann

Hi Ann,

Yes, I've seen a Red Kite over Dagnall (initially it was over the bit of Whipsnade Zoo that's near Dagnall, but it then flew off over Dagnall towards Ivinghoe Beacon). That was the closest I'd seen one to my home, until I saw one at Whipsnade (I've seen one there three times now, twice on Bison Hill and once behind the church, about a mile from where I live). I'm sure I'll see one here soon.

I've also seen one over the road between Ivinghoe Beacon and Ivinghoe, one over Pitstone Hill, and one in Incombe Hole by Steps Hill, again near Ivinghoe Beacon. So they're definitely spreading this way - and as I said in an earlier post they seem to be doing well in parts of the Vale of Aylesbury too.

Pete

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by za64

i see them all the time in slough, burnham and maidenhead.
also seeing lots more sparrowhawks than usual.

za

Hi za64,

I think that's the first time I've ever heard something positive about Slough!

When I walked the Chiltern Way it was a little north of those places (I saw Burnham Beeches from a distance), so it's nice to know the kites are doing well there too. I think you're very lucky to see them so often.

I've not noticed many sparrowhawks myself, although we've had one in the garden a few times (devoured a blue tit on the rockery just outside the patio window once, another time it stunned itself on a window!). But they seem to be cropping up a lot in photos on these threads just recently, perhaps that indicates they're doing well.

Welcome to WAB, by the way!

Pete

[vinnychameleon]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Little brown jobs! Like larks, warblers, pipits, etc.

Thanks Aeshna that really would have bugged me

[paulchandler6]

Fortunately I live in an area where Red Kite is now common (had 12 max over the garden before now and 2 actually in the garden, sorry). I have also noticed an increase in Buzzards over the past few years. I only used to get them occaisionally in the winter, but now regular all year with a max of 6 overhead. Presumably there is a more sympathetic view to BOP's now. Anyone else noticed this? Cheers

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

Fortunately I live in an area where Red Kite is now common (had 12 max over the garden before now and 2 actually in the garden, sorry). I have also noticed an increase in Buzzards over the past few years. I only used to get them occaisionally in the winter, but now regular all year with a max of 6 overhead. Presumably there is a more sympathetic view to BOP's now. Anyone else noticed this? Cheers

Hi Paul,

Yes, I've seen lots of Red Kites in South Oxfordshire where you live - I've walked through part of that area on the Chiltern Way and the part of the Ridgeway that I've done.

And yes, I've also seen lots of Buzzards almost everywhere I've walked (mainly Beds, Bucks, Herts as well as South Oxon.) and commented on this on another thread a few weeks ago. I saw one near Ewelme, if that's anywhere near you. It's reached the point where I'm almost disappointed if I don't see one when I go for a long walk! There are some Buzzards here in Kensworth, and I've seen them in almost all the neighbouring villages too. I saw one in Studham on my last 'local' walk on Saturday, and then saw one just north of Milton Keynes on Tuesday.

I never saw a Buzzard here in the 60's and 70's when I was growing up. They've certainly made a spectacular comeback in this part of southern England - I think this possibly tends to get overlooked because of all the publicity over the successful re-introduction of the Kites.

Pete

[paulchandler6]

Hi Pete, Yes just 5 miles from Ewelme, theres a good small wood near there, Swyncombe, that gets lots of Kite as well as Buzzard, also had Hen Harrier there in winter. Cheers

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

Hi Pete, Yes just 5 miles from Ewelme, theres a good small wood near there, Swyncombe, that gets lots of Kite as well as Buzzard, also had Hen Harrier there in winter. Cheers

Hi Paul,

The Chiltern Way took me over Swyncombe Down, and passed the very old church of St Botolph at Swyncombe (I presume we're talking about the same place, though I believe thare's another Swyncombe a few miles away). When I was walking across the parkland surrounding Swyncombe House I heard a Raven! I'd been told that there were a few Ravens in the Chiltern Hills, and indeed I heard and saw one at Park Corner, not far away from Swyncombe.

Pete

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Hi Paul,

When I was walking across the parkland surrounding Swyncombe House I heard a Raven! I'd been told that there were a few Ravens in the Chiltern Hills, and indeed I heard and saw one at Park Corner, not far away from Swyncombe.

Pete

Hi Pete, Funny you should say that. I was by the Church back in January 1st and had a Raven fly over, also 2 over the garden in the past year. They seem to be making a come back.

[Jez]

Your all lucky budgers! So bless you and get them to the midlands. obviously not there domain

[naturelover]

nothing in cambridgeshire not big birds anyway.

[Helo]

Hi

Although people do choose to feed the kites, there is no official feeding station in the Chilterns. However, because of their gregarious nature, when food is around, the kites will come together, hence the large numbers seen where food is. This is natural behaviour for the kite, and is seen in various parts of the country where kites are present.

They are now spreading out into the surrounding counties, and are doing well. It isn't unusual to see kites in other locations, as the young non breeding ones will quite often go 'walk abouts' away from their natal area. Quite often they will return when ready to breed.

As someone else mentioned, the common buzzard is becoming a 'common' sight in the Chilterns (excuse the pun), and although they will live side by side with the kite, they don't tolerate each other close to nesting sites.

Mobbing takes place quite often. As some of you have witnessed, usually the kite will continue on its way. Sometimes however they wil retaliate, more often than not showing their talons is enough. This mobbing is obviously inconvenient for the kite. It can take place for a number of reasons, one of them being to steal food, another being that the raptor may be seen as a potential threat to the young of corvids, etc.

[Pete Collins]

Hello Helo (sorry!), welcome to WAB! That was an interesting and informative post, especially about Buzzards and Kites not tolerating each other near nesting sites. I continue to see them in the skies together occasionally, in fact I've done so twice in the last week - on Thursday near Pulpit Hill, Great Kimble, Bucks., then on Saturday in the valley of Bix Bottom, Oxon. I've seen both types of birds being mobbed by other birds on many occasions too, but I've not yet seen another incident like the Kite chasing the Kestrel that first prompted this thread.

[mrs fish]

I am seeing a sparrowhawk and kestrel at odds with each other at the moment, the noises coming from them unbelievable

[Pete Collins]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but amongst other things it covered the topic of how well Buzzards are doing nowadays. I've mentioned before how frequently I see them on my country walks, but even so, I was quite surprised on Friday afternoon when I saw one on the verge of a busy dual carriageway on the edge of Luton!