Red Kites in East Anglia

[Flywaver]

Another eastern question. Is there a stronghold yet Cambs/Norfolk/Suffolk?
I see them at work on the Stamford - Melton Mowbray stretch of railway. Have to give them a blast not to hit them when they are scavenging on the track...

[poschiavanus]

There was a release site in Rockingham Forest.

They are very common around the Corby area (for instance Firmin Woods CP), and certainly were occurring daily at Rutland Water 6 years ago. Had a couple over Barnack Hills and Holes in the Spring.

Birds are occasionally seen in the Nottingham area, but if the Chilterns introduction is anything to go by they will spread quite slowly. They seem to be able to survive at high densities in suitable country.

Here's a bit from an RSBP fact-sheet:

Between 1995 and 1998, a total of 70 young birds were brought to
Rockingham Forest in the East Midlands from Spain and from the successfully
reintroduced population in the Chilterns, near London.

[maccyd82]

I saw a red kite just outside Bury St Edmunds earlier this year, and after doing a bit of digging there appeared to be a couple seen reglularly around Lackford Lakes. I think there are 1 or 2 known nests in Norfolk, but thats about all I know...!

[Tursiops2]

They're still scarce visitors out here on the coast (I saw one at Minsmere a few years ago, and the first one on my local patch this spring), but they're definitely being seen more frequently. There's plenty of suitable habitat round here, and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they follow the example of the Buzzards which bred in the area for the first time last year.

T2

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Flywaver

Another eastern question. Is there a stronghold yet Cambs/Norfolk/Suffolk?..........

Just a couple of weeks ago I had some excellent views of a Red Kite flying alongside the River Nene close to where it enters The Wash and although numbers are certainly increasing in these 3 eastern counties I don't think we can claim that Red Kites have yet established a "stronghold" here.

In Cambs sightings are certainly on the increase and in 2009 there were 6 confirmed reports of breeding pairs and at least 2 suspected pairs.

As poschiavanus says, the nearest "stronghold" is just over the county border in Northants where Fineshade Wood (a joint venture between the RSPB and the Forestry Commission and part of Rockingham Forest) offers the opportunity to see large numbers of Red Kites.

On our regular circular drives (during the winter) between the villages of Southwick, Bulwick, King's Cliffe and Woodnewton (just north of Oundle) my wife and I have often seen between 12 and 20 birds in the air together as they gather before roosting.

In fact, during November and December the RSPB are organising 3 "Kite Walks" in the area with the chance of seeing "....Up to 100 birds, wheeling and circling over the Northamptonshire countryside as the sun sets". See here for full details -
Kite Walks Are Go! - Top Lodge - Top Lodge - The RSPB Community

Hopefully, the birds from that area will continue to spread eastward and will become a more regular feature of East Anglian birding

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[colincurry]

I have recently seen one from the guided busway at Histon and another over our house - no camera on either occasion.

Colin

[Rob_D]

Can't say directly about Cambs, but here in N Herts they've become a much more regular sight in the last two years. Why, only yesterday I saw 7 up at once, than that's about 2 miles south of the S Cambs border.

[hairydogs]

I live a mile from Rockingham and i see Red Kites almost daily, always when i hav'nt got my camera with me.

[Podgod]

My in-laws regularly see them over their house in Alconbury, Cambs. I think there may even be a nest in the area as it's been the same pair all summer.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Podgod

My in-laws regularly see them over their house in Alconbury, Cambs. I think there may even be a nest in the area as it's been the same pair all summer.

Yes - a couple of the known nest sites are in woodland around that area

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)