Red Kites …. again and again!

[rlchew]

Many years ago in my birdwatching youth I had a burning desire to visit mid Wales to see one of Britain’s rarest birds …. the Red Kite.

When I eventually acquired a car, I realised that dream and saw my first Red Kite in the upper Towy valley . In subsequent years, I saw Red Kites on almost every annual trip to Wales but they could still be very difficult to find.

With the re-introduction schemes in various parts of the UK since the late 1980s, the Red Kite population has expanded significantly and they are now considerably easier to see, not least in the Chilterns. I visit the Chilterns on a day trip from Essex 2 or 3 times a year and so I did last Saturday.

I normally leave the M40 at J5 (Stokenchurch) and then travel through Ibstone, Christmas Common, Watlington, etc.

On Saturday, I saw my first Red Kite as far east as J2 (Beaconsfield) and then saw a further 5 birds between J4 and J5. There could well have been many more but you do occasionally have to keep your eyes on the road whilst driving!

Around the Chilterns I must have seen at least another 30 Red Kites including several over the rooftops of Watlington town centre and a food pass between a male and female displaying pair . The weather was bright and sunny and allowed a full appreciation of the deep russet red plumage.

Having had an excellent day, the route home was less direct than the usual M40/M25 slog but was to be rewarded with 2 further Red Kites some distance away from the main area that I visited …. one at Sonning Common just north of Reading and one at Thatcham east of Newbury.

Red Kites are clearly thriving in the Chilterns and expanding outwards from that area . If you haven’t seen one of these magnificent birds and can travel to the Chilterns, you will not fail to see one. In fact if you only see one, it will have been a poor day!

My next Red Kite watching is likely to be mid Wales (again!) in May and then the Black Isle just north of Inverness when I am on holiday in the Scottish Highlands in June. I never tire of seeing these birds.

For those that are interested, here is some information about Red Kites in the Chilterns and the Welsh Kite Trust.

Richard

[Wild-Woman]

Hey richew. Thank you for that information about the red kites. I've never seen one, so now I know that they appear that much closer to me, I'm going to go and take a look over easter weekend, all being well. Cheers ww

[John]

Hi Rich

I must admit that I have actually seen in excess of 50 birds just over Jnct 5 before now. They are well spread and there is alsp a large population around the Chilton Downs (south of Abingdon).

Fabulous birds and I never tire of watching them. Gigrin Farm at Rhayder is a super place to get really close to them and these are the real wild birds. The bonus here is that you also get close up views of Buzzards and Ravens also.

John

[paulthomas]

I keep coming across occassional reported Red Kite sightings in North Staffordshire and Derbyshire. They're obviously spreading

[life through a lens]

Rich et all

They are definately spreading, I have narrowly avoided several accidents whilst watching red kites hovering over the M4 just outside of Reading.

I have also spotted one bird whilst out and about in Woodley, it was actually hovering over a public car park so got a good look but unfortunately didn't have my camera with me.

I know that a friend also sees them very regularly around the High Wycombe area.

Olly

[Alan]

I saw my first Red Kite on the Black Isle up in Scotland. I havn't been to Wales before so haven't experienced Gigrin Farm. They also have a release program at Harewood House near Harrogate/Leeds and these seem to be doing very well. We do get quite a few reports around North Lincs and I believe there was a breeding pair on the north side of the Humber somewhere near Hull.

A big success story in all respects

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by John

Gigrin Farm at Rhayder is a super place to get really close to them and these are the real wild birds. The bonus here is that you also get close up views of Buzzards and Ravens also.

For those that are not aware of the Gigrin Farm spectacle, it is well worth a visit particularly in winter when up to 200 birds can be seen at the feeding station. As John says, these are real wild birds .... none of those Spanish immigrants allowed in to the Chilterns by the RSPB and English Nature . Here is a link .... Gigrin Farm.

By the way, there is a programme called Canrif y Barcud going out on S4C (Channel 4 Wales I believe) on Easter Monday at 9 p.m. about the recovery of the Red Kite in Wales since the 1930s.

The S4C programme listing says: A century ago, Professor J H Salter of Aberystwyth University wrote a famous letter to the British Ornithologists Club in a desperate attempt to save the few remaining kites in Wales from extinction. They were down to the last dozen or so pairs, all clustered in the wild uplands at the top of the Towy Valley. Within five days the British Ornithologist Club established a kite committee which has overseen the conservation of the kite in Britain to the present day. This documentary film records the colourful characters, the pioneering research and the dedicated work of a few volunteers that has brought the kite from one fertile female only in the 1930s to five hundred nesting pairs in Wales in 2005.

I am not sure whether or not the commentary will be in Welsh but it may be worth tuning in if you can get S4C via Sky, Telewest or NTL.

Richard

[Wild-Woman]

Wow. That's some footage of them feeding. That must be an incredible feeling watching them flying around above you. Can't believe there were so many. Thanks for the site. ww

[pheonix]

i had an excellent veiw of one about two metres of the side of the m40 approx 5 metres above the ground the other day, really amaxing birds to watch.
i have seen them as far down as junction 1, and there are more sightings coming from within london itself.

[Scarlettvegetable]

Red Kites, loads of them here thats for sure!

My boyfriends parents live in Cookham, Berks, and their garden backs onto a field, which used to be home to one of those gasometer thingys but has since been taken down, and the Kites are always there. You'd be very unlucky not to see one.

In fact they regularly swoop down as low as the shed in the garden. A few houses down, someone puts food out for them, so I frequently see them feeding and passing the food. Its quite a fantastic sight, and I consider myself very priveliged to be able to see them on a daily basis.

There is definately a 2 pairs that live in the immediate area, and sometimes as many as 10 can be seen in the same spot simultaneously, which is quite a sight, and if you cant see them you can most certainly hear them! There are a very good number in this little area alone, so in the whole county I should imagine they are doing extremely well! I see them pretty much everywhere I go.

I live in Maidenhead, Berks, and even in the built up areas there are still a good number of them around. You would be most unlucky to visit this area and not see one.

Thanks

Sara

[glsammy]

Another area for me to look. I've still never managed to see one..

[kerfoot]

There has been a very successful re-introduction scheme based at Harewood House, just outside Leeds. Every time I go walking or even driving round up there, I always see them. A few years ago during a masters course at Leeds Uni, we had a day up there and had a presentatioon from the director of conservation. It was very interesting. You can tell which birds are the original released birds as they have big orange tags on their wings. But from what i can remember they are certainly breeding and dispersing.

My best view of a Kite was in mid-wales, a place called Builth Wells. I was fishing on the river early moring and it just flew overhead very slowly then settled on the other river bank. It was calling which apparently isn't very common-a sort of whistling buzzard noise.
Anyway back to work

[John]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Another area for me to look. I've still never managed to see one..

Hi Graham

I don't know if this would interest you but there is a release site at Rockingham Forest, Near Corby, Northants. OS Grid Reference: SP9898

John

[Helen]

These are schedule 1 birds, and are very very prone to disturbance at nesting sites.

Nesting sites should be on a "need to know" basis. People involved with the red kites are the only ones who need to know where the sites are.

If anyone does find a nest, please report it to the relevant Red Kite Project in your area, and keep the news to yourself.

[wildone]

Was talking with somebody yesterday who told me he had seen a Red Kite over the Nene Washes. Means they are moving further east than the Corby area.

[John]

Originally Posted by Helen

These are schedule 1 birds, and are very very prone to disturbance at nesting sites.

Nesting sites should be on a "need to know" basis. People involved with the red kites are the only ones who need to know where the sites are.

If anyone does find a nest, please report it to the relevant Red Kite Project in your area, and keep the news to yourself.

Totally agree Helen.

It is ok to let people know about release sites as they are public knowledge. However nest sites are a different matter and as Helen has stated please report them only to the relevant bodies. If you are not sure who to let know contact the RSPB I'm sure they will help you.

John

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Graham

I don't know if this would interest you but there is a release site at Rockingham Forest, Near Corby, Northants. OS Grid Reference: SP9898

John

These are speading rapidly as well, I live about 20 miles North of this and I'm now seeing Red Kites locally most weeks.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

These are speading rapidly as well, I live about 20 miles North of this and I'm now seeing Red Kites locally most weeks.

Red Kites and Dragonflies! Can't wait..