Red Kite Sighting in Leeds

bodshi · #1 (**permalink**) 17-03-2010, 09:52 PM

Couldn't believe my eyes yesterday afternoon - on my way back from York to the office in Leeds city centre and flying over the A64 in the Seacroft area was a Red Kite - unmistakable!

Seacroft is a suburb of Leeds, about 3-4 miles from the city centre, mainly houses and high rise tower blocks, I'm guessing about 15 miles as the crow flies from Harewood, where the Red Kite release site was - not far I suppose, but Harewood is a lovely country area and Leeds is, well Leeds!

I was just so surprised to see one in a city - I'm afraid the 'F' word slipped out. I was in the car with my boss at the time (he was driving). He didn't mind the F word so much, but really couldn't understand why I was so excited about a bird!

BloomingMarvellous · #2 (**permalink**) 17-03-2010, 10:40 PM

On Monday afternoon whilst having a cup of tea at Tropical World a Red Kite flew over, always makes my day when I see one.

bodshi · #3 (**permalink**) 17-03-2010, 10:54 PM

Love it! I've been hoping to see one where I live (in East Yorkshire) - we saw Buzzards for the first time 2 or 3 years ago. Never dreamt I'd see a kite in Leeds first - but I did a search through the old posts on this forum and read that they've been seen in the Meanwood and surrounding area quite a lot. What a treat though.

RKB · #4 (**permalink**) 17-03-2010, 11:21 PM

If you have a stroll along the Wolds between South Cave and Millington in East Yorks, you stand a pretty good chance of seeing Kites (and Buzzards). There's probably around 40-50 Kites on the Wolds now. One communal roost on the Wolds has seen over 30.

Where they are common in England it's not unusual to see them around shopping centres and over towns. They come to my garden to take scraps, and many people feed them. They also follow the plough like gulls, and spend a lot of time looking for worms on playing fields in the early mornings. I know one Hessle-sized town where you can frequently see 30-50 together over the centre.

We're used to the idea that they are shy birds of remote Welsh hills, but they're really more like gulls in that they'll happily exploit anything man has to offer - rubbish tips and motorways (for roadkill) are also favourite hang-outs.

As for Buzzards, these are pretty common in east Yorks now, with many pairs on the Wolds and several in Holderness (e.g. Burton Constable). I've seen them several times in Hull.

davecatt · #5 (**permalink**) 17-03-2010, 11:43 PM

Hi Bodshi
Another walk in East Yorks where you stand a good chance of Red Kite is the Hudson Way (Disused railway between Beverley and Market wheighton), and nearby villages, I've seen them several times at South Dalton, Cherry Burton,Etton and Kipplingcotes.

Dave

rossy · #6 (**permalink**) 17-03-2010, 11:49 PM

you lucky lot i can only hope they come over the pennines as ive never seen a kite round here but did see a buzzard so fingers crossed,

rossy

bodshi · #7 (**permalink**) 18-03-2010, 12:19 AM

It's good to hear so many sightings of kites and buzzards locally. We actually live almost on the border of East, South and North Yorkshire and although since we started to see buzzards locally we have seen quite a lot in surrounding areas (esp by the motorways in the area), we don't see them all that often nearby. What we do have is shooting - game birds in season and pigeons all year round (as well as a clay pigeon shooting range). They shoot in the wood that the buzzards made their base too.

Unusually, we also seem to have very few rabbits about at the moment, we hardly ever see them or their droppings when we're out walking now. The three that were visiting the garden last year all got myxi, so don't know whether it was particularly bad last season. Suppose lack of rabbits will affect the buzzard population?

RKB · #8 (**permalink**) 18-03-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodshi

It's good to hear so many sightings of kites and buzzards locally. We actually live almost on the border of East, South and North Yorkshire and although since we started to see buzzards locally we have seen quite a lot in surrounding areas (esp by the motorways in the area), we don't see them all that often nearby. What we do have is shooting - game birds in season and pigeons all year round (as well as a clay pigeon shooting range). They shoot in the wood that the buzzards made their base too.

Unusually, we also seem to have very few rabbits about at the moment, we hardly ever see them or their droppings when we're out walking now. The three that were visiting the garden last year all got myxi, so don't know whether it was particularly bad last season. Suppose lack of rabbits will affect the buzzard population?

Shooting doesn't necessarily mean that they don't want Buzzards - it all depends on how narrow-minded/criminal the keeper is. One of the best Buzzard sites I know is also the most heavily-keepered I've ever seen. The relationship with Rabbits is overstated - Rabbits aren't as hugely common in Scotland as in England, and yet Buzzards are common there. They mainly eat voles, roadkill and worms. But Buzzards (and kites) do need woods to nest in, although these don't have to be very big.

bodshi · #9 (**permalink**) 18-03-2010, 08:26 AM

Thanks RKB. Interesting to know that about what the buzzards and kites eat. How lovely must it be to have kites visiting your garden! I'm not sure about the shooting & buzzard relationship here - they raise game birds in the wood where the buzzards hang out and the clay pigeon shooting range is next door (crafty really). The buzzards certainly don't seem to be bothered by the noise of the range. But when they shoot in that wood - and they do it well into the evening when it's quite dark - none of the birds can settle and you see all the crows, rooks and we have seen the buzzards with them, flying around the wood, trying to return to roost but unable to because of the guns. I hate that sight but that's just how it goes round here. Farmers have had to diversify (so we keep getting told) and that's one of the ways our local farmer makes his money.

RKB · #10 (**permalink**) 18-03-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodshi

How lovely must it be to have kites visiting your garden!

It looks a bit like this: YouTube - Garden birds-- red kites feeding ll

This isn't my video, but it's from not very far away, and it's the same kind of thing you see all around that area (Thames valley). Note they seem to be taking bread - which is what mine will take too (but they prefer meat scraps). I've had up to 5 at a time swooping into my garden, and they sometimes land to feed.

Once they get more established around Leeds and East Yorks, they'll be doing it there too. It's just what they do.