Is it possible.....

[goosey]

I feel really stupid, but here goes. Is it possible that I could have seen a Red Kite in Yorkshire? Yesterday I was so sure I saw one alongside the M62 somewhere between Leeds and Pontefract, sitting on a fence. I thought they were only in Wales. Ok, I must be wrong but what else could it have been, it looked a bit like a hawk but a much richer deeper brown/reddish colour?

[rlchew]

Common Buzzards habitually perch on fence posts but you may well have seen a Red Kite in Yorkshire since one of the re-introduction sites was around Harewood Hall (north of Leeds I believe).

Richard

[Ollie]

It's quite feasible you saw a Red Kite in Yorkshire as I have been told they can be seen around the North Cave or South Cave area of Yorkshire, (can't remember which).
Roger

[Dogghound]

About 2months ago someone reported a red kite not far away from Scarborough, including photos, whether this was a resident or just passing through i dont know but it was a Red kite and it was in Yorkshire.

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, they are present between Leeds and Harrogate (as noted) but also there are lots of rovers from Derbyshire into South Yorks and, because the species is on a bit of a bounce, might be seen almost anywhere!
Never assume that you're stupid - there are plenty of other people to do that but things can change so rapidly with endangered or new species that it's better to risk a few titters than to miss a very good observation!

Originally Posted by goosey

I feel really stupid, but here goes. Is it possible that I could have seen a Red Kite in Yorkshire? Yesterday I was so sure I saw one alongside the M62 somewhere between Leeds and Pontefract, sitting on a fence. I thought they were only in Wales. Ok, I must be wrong but what else could it have been, it looked a bit like a hawk but a much richer deeper brown/reddish colour?

[Paul mabbott]

PS: no, they are quite well distributed nowadays although the only ones I've seen outside of Wales have been in Northamptonshire. Perhaps they'll return to London one day?

Originally Posted by goosey

........... I thought they were only in Wales. Ok, I must be wrong but what else could it have been, it looked a bit like a hawk but a much richer deeper brown/reddish colour?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

PS: no, they are quite well distributed nowadays although the only ones I've seen outside of Wales have been in Northamptonshire. Perhaps they'll return to London one day?

the chiltern population have spread south along the m40 - i saw one over the M25 the other day so you could be right - they have also crossed the goring gap and spread as far as northern wiltshire along the oxfordshire downs

[almostnormal]

there are a number of pairs in yorkshire, so you might have seen one...very distinctive bird in flight because they have that nice forked tail. they're also very chesnut in colour with distinctive white patches on the wings.

[jj-harrishawker]

im in doubt it will have being a red kite as they have become extremly succesful in the yorkshire area, i see a pair daily which soar above my hawks whilst out hunting in bramhope (leeds) in which there are several pairs around the area

[Cazzie]

I've seen 2 in the past couple of weeks very local to me - Skipton area