Red Kites

[Guinnessman1974]

Driving back home yesterday along the M40 junctions 1- 5 through Oxfordshire, I counted a total of 27 Red Kites circling above and around the motorway - my partner was driving by the way!

Incredible! I can't believe how many of these birds there were, spectacular to see.

Does anyone know how many Red Kites there are in the Chilterns in total?

[sunnydale]

More than 20, obviously!

Lucky you seeing them all. Bet you're glad you weren't driving that day!

[mrbright]

they must be doing incredibly well, because we are down the m4 at watford, and 1 or 2 are now being spotted flying over our skies, and for as long as i can remember have not been seen for years.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Guinnessman1974

Does anyone know how many Red Kites there are in the Chilterns in total?

The south-east England population, centre on the Chilterns was estimated as 350 pairs in 2007. Allowing for a slight increase since then, plus taking into account non-breeding immature birds, means that there are probably over 1000 - with the bulk of those still around the Chilterns.

I haven't seen a local one yet this year, but there have been several seen and I expect to see at least 2-3 before the end of the year.

[aeshna5]

I saw my first London area (20 mile radius from St. Pauls) Red Kites last year when I saw 3 with 2 Buzzards + a Sparrowhawk over part of Ruislip Woods.

This morning I had one flying fairly low over the West London Shooting Club, Hillingdon at 8am. Also a Sparrowhawk arguing with a Crow + a hunting Kestrel in the same area.

[mrbright]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I saw my first London area (20 mile radius from St. Pauls) Red Kites last year when I saw 3 with 2 Buzzards + a Sparrowhawk over part of Ruislip Woods.

This morning I had one flying fairly low over the West London Shooting Club, Hillingdon at 8am. Also a Sparrowhawk arguing with a Crow + a hunting Kestrel in the same area.

lets hope they dont fly any lower over w london shooting club.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by mrbright

lets hope they dont fly any lower over w london shooting club.

Fortunately there was no shooting when I went past- but in theory only clays are shot, but you never know!

[twitchyt]

hi l,m new to the boards and love the countryside wildlife, birds being what l see the most of, with my deluxe diner in the garden, my usual daily birds are blackbirds, sparrows, blue,gt,and long tailed tits, robin, rarely starlings, the odd flock of 30 or so passing over, in their hundreds when l was a kid,today saw a finch briefly for first time ever in garden, cool, think chaffinch, will check id, a few month ago saw a thrush, again for the first time in many years so dashed to take a pic, used to be a daily visitor when l was growing up. In the field at the back the bigger boys are seen Rook Magpie Crow, Jackdaw, gulls, saw a jay just once, only the second time in my life, why are they rarer than their cousins, and the heron occassionally to check out ponds.
In my area of yorkshire the common bird of prey l think is the sparrow hawk, which seem in simular no,s to when l grew up. Once saw a marsh harrier, think all gone in this area now. Last week on a trip to whitby, after passing wetherby saw a very large bird of prey above a village, little further another slightly small, wasnt sure of id but had a distinct forked tail, checked out on the net a think it must have been a red kite, which brought me to your site and the great pics. So are red kites found in most regions now and healthy in numbers, increasing. Anyway it was a wonderful to see them, as it is all birds, but more so when rarely seen. Sleep beckons now, but will check tomorrow evening, for any info on the kite.
lynne