Red Kite Cobham Kent

[leeroy]

Out this morning walking the dogs, came out of a small copse & saw a red kite no more than 20 feet above us.

A bit startled I fumbled with the mobile to take a pic, but only managed to get one as it flew away continuing to hunt along the edge of the woods & fields.

Nice to see a Red Kite so close in this area, I spotted one over the M2 near Faversham, last year & have not seen one since.

Apologies for the bad quality pic as it was taken on the mobile phone, but an amazing site I wanted to share.

[RoyW]

Still a relatively unusual bird to see in my area (and I believe even scarcer in Kent and Sussex).

I don't think that I'd have suggested Red Kite if you'd asked for Id from the photo though!

[leeroy]

Originally Posted by RoyW

Still a relatively unusual bird to see in my area (and I believe even scarcer in Kent and Sussex).

I don't think that I'd have suggested Red Kite if you'd asked for Id from the photo though!

I have seen several in Kent, some sitings over the M2 were probably the same bird, between the Medway towns & Faversham area.
Hard to see & ID from that photo as it is flying away from me & quite a long way away ( I had to crop the pic).
The bird was right above me at approx 20 feet as I came out of the copse,
it had the distinctive forked tail, wingspan was around 1.5 metres with light patches on the wings, I did not have time to count the fingers due to fumbling with the mobile.
It was definitely a kite tho & so graceful.
I will keep an eye out & try to get better pics, now I know they are around.

[Wild-Woman]

I shall keep an eye out as i'm only about a mile away from Cobham.

[leeroy]

Originally Posted by RoyW

Still a relatively unusual bird to see in my area (and I believe even scarcer in Kent and Sussex).

I don't think that I'd have suggested Red Kite if you'd asked for Id from the photo though!

Just interested - what would you have suggested as an ID ?

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by leeroy

I have seen several in Kent, some sitings over the M2 were probably the same bird, between the Medway towns & Faversham area.
Hard to see & ID from that photo as it is flying away from me & quite a long way away ( I had to crop the pic).
The bird was right above me at approx 20 feet as I came out of the copse,
it had the distinctive forked tail, wingspan was around 1.5 metres with light patches on the wings, I did not have time to count the fingers due to fumbling with the mobile.
It was definitely a kite tho & so graceful.
I will keep an eye out & try to get better pics, now I know they are around.

I keep reading reports of them here in Kent, but haven't been lucky yet. Snake did get a photo of one on Sheppey a while ago. And as I'm a regular to that bird paradise I may break my duck soon.

Bryan

[leeroy]

I spoke to someone a few days ago, who saw a red kite & his words were "I saw it a few Sundays ago, day over Shorne Country Park" got to be the same bird & probably the same day.

Just thought I would also mention, I never thought gardening was a dangerous past time until yesterday !
Minding my own business weeding etc under a large bush in the garden & was startled at the noise of sparrows in the bush, heard a load of rustling & commotion, so stood up to have a better look & a sparrow hawk flew out & nearly took my head off - I ducked, but it probably wasn't that close really, just seemed it.
Watched the bird fly around being hassled by smaller birds for a few minutes til it flew off.

[RobinP]

I would say this is a Common Buzzard from the photo, I see Red Kite nearly every day and this is not one (imo)

Robin

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by RobinP

I would say this is a Common Buzzard from the photo, I see Red Kite nearly every day and this is not one (imo)

Robin

I agree, I can't see any evidence of a forked tail from the pic even when zoomed right it

It kinda doesn't really suit Buzzard either but that may be the angle of the bird.

Nige

[Billabong Karen]

Looks more like a buzzard than a red kite to me too... I've seen plenty of kites in Sussex, but no red kites (though lots of them at our place in Germany).