Leeds Red Kite

[certificate18]

(See also Yorkshire red kites .)

Anyone else seen a Red Kite in Meanwood, Leeds 6, May 2009?

I saw one high over my garden once or twice in 2008 & naturally assumed it was one of the reintroduced birds from the Harewood House breeding programme.

However I saw (& photographed) a Red Kite from my house in Meanwood on Fri 1 May at 5pm, again at 7pm, then once again today Sat 2 May at 12:45pm.

It seems unlikely that a roaming Kite might revisit the same area 2 days running. The bird may have roosted overnight, or possibly this may indicate a Kite taking up residence in the area, probably in the woods at Meanwood Park. That would be a treat eh?

[fatsun]

I don't know about Meanwood, but I've been seeing them regularly over Roundhay this year, which I haven't previously. In the last week I've also seen them over Harehills and in the city centre, so my guess is that they must be starting to nest in Leeds now.

[ian blair]

was over at the arndale ctr at headingley i seen a red kite over head,on the the way back to meanwood ,i viewed what i think was the same red kite ,made my day .was realy nice to see,just hope it will become a common site

[silvernuie]

There has been a Red Kite above the mature gardens and green space behind my house for the past couple of days now (31 May 2009). It is so exciting, I could hardly believe my eyes at first. - the first time i saw it, it was chasing a pigeon and attacking it mid-flight! It really is beautiful.

[D5177_55A]

I live in the St Chads area of Headingley, behind the Broomfield Cricket field just off Otley Road, and have seen a Kite on two occasions recently. First on Thursday 11.6.9 at 19:10 and then on Tuesday 16.6.9 approx 20:00, gliding sideways down the long back gardens between the streets!

[sometimes]

Not far from Harewood, so it could easily be from that colony?
I don't live far from there myself. I've found that if I go about my day and don't look out for them I rarely see them, but if I deliberately watch for them, I see one or more nearly every day.

[certificate18]

I saw a red kite in Meanwood again, on 20/06/09 around 6pm. Quite low down, only about 20m above my street.

OK, so we're seeing kites in Meanwood, Headingley, Harehills & Roundhay. This makes sense given these areas can be reached from the nearby Harewood breeding grounds via fairly continuous green corridors. Further sightings across north/northeast Leeds (Moortown, Alwoodley, Shadwell etc) can be expected I imagine.

It's therefore highly likely these birds originated at Harewood, however we've no way of knowing yet whether any birds have taken up local residence in north Leeds (perhaps in the Meanwood Park woods, the Hollies or Roundhay Park).

[sometimes]

It would be interesting to know the typical daily range distances a RK might travel.

[Hedgehoggy]

Hello neighbours!

There have been Red Kites in the Alwoodley and Moortown areas for several years now (don’t know about Shadwell but should imagine so, as it’s right next door).

More recently, I've regularly seen a pair of Kites in the Meanwood area and also at Golden Acre Park (Adel/Bramhope area).

I don't know their typical daily routine distances, but wouldn't think they're the same two birds covering all these localities. Harewood released 21 young kites in 1999 and the rest, as they say, is history...

Magnificent birds, let's hope they continue to flourish.

[desoconnor]

Hey,

I see Red Kites regularly around Bramhope and Golden Acre Park...

Was out at Stainburn (across the valley from Harewood) today and saw 5 circling together and calling. I think that they were adults and young. I saw one perched and got some pretty good shots, it had wing tags so was clearly a released bird. I don't know of any other releases since 1999 but didn't think they lived that long? Any ideas...

Cheers,
Des