red kite
- Thread starter wolf
- Start date
They are beautiful birds aren't they? I am lucky enough to live quite close to a release area so see between 1 and 5 most evenings when I go for my walk.
yes i agree they are,i lived in reading for a year,there they fly around the town,you can see them flying low over gardens,just like the old days of london...
Saw my first one near reading comming back from the last full members meet, and then saw another 7 or 8 hunting together, amazing..................Jon (testing testing 123)
They look like this:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/r/redkite/index.asp
If you look for tags on their wings (you may see them flapping about a little on the top surface of the wing), you can identify tagged and released birds by year and region.
http://www.gigrin.co.uk/redkitetags-explained.html
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/r/redkite/index.asp
If you look for tags on their wings (you may see them flapping about a little on the top surface of the wing), you can identify tagged and released birds by year and region.
http://www.gigrin.co.uk/redkitetags-explained.html
I thought they looked slightly larger than buzzards, but not as stocky.....................Jongaz_miggy said:
An old name for these beautiful birds is Gled. The word still crops up in Scots and Northumbrian place names and old songs 
Don't know it it's widely used elsewhere.
http://www.pauldfrost.co.uk/redkite.html
Cheers,
Toddy
Don't know it it's widely used elsewhere.http://www.pauldfrost.co.uk/redkite.html
Cheers,
Toddy
I've got three that fly over my garden regularly, and I regularly see them from the bedroom window when I get up. :smug; One took a pigeon off the back fence one time (SWMBO saw it) I love to watch them. Somethimes you'll get a stack of them riding a thermal. The nipper counter 29 of them one day.
The re-introduced ones are European Red Kites, and are a little larger than the native ones to be found in Wales.
They've spread quite a way from their southern introduction place of Stokenchurch in Bucks. I had heard that the northern introduction hadn't fared as well, but hopefully they've managed to get thouroughly established too.
The re-introduced ones are European Red Kites, and are a little larger than the native ones to be found in Wales.
They've spread quite a way from their southern introduction place of Stokenchurch in Bucks. I had heard that the northern introduction hadn't fared as well, but hopefully they've managed to get thouroughly established too.
As Provain and some other members of the form I live quite near the ever expanding red kite population of the Chilterns hence my avatar. I love these birds they are so majestic and great to watch the population in the Chilterns now extends from the m4 corridor near reading all the way up the Chilterns escarpment to Dunstable so round hear you cant move without seeing them.
As for the genetic makeup of the birds IIRC the birds in the Chilterns are of Spanish origins and the birds in Yorkshire and Scotland are from Scandinavia.
wolf I believe reading is in Berkshire.
James
As for the genetic makeup of the birds IIRC the birds in the Chilterns are of Spanish origins and the birds in Yorkshire and Scotland are from Scandinavia.
wolf I believe reading is in Berkshire.
James
I work in North Wales and during my lunch breaks (when I got them!) last year I watched a pair bring up a couple of young. And this year they are all still together its great.
Last Thursday, on my way home, one flying at about 30 stopped the traffic on the M56! Ive also seen a pair on the M40 not far from London.
AJB
Last Thursday, on my way home, one flying at about 30 stopped the traffic on the M56! Ive also seen a pair on the M40 not far from London.
AJB
gaz_miggy said:
I'm no expert but I do find this interesting as I'm trying to learn my british birds so here goes:
This would be a best guess and nothing more: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/m/marshharrier/index.asp
Marsh Harrier.
Summer distribution might fit, depends when you saw it.
Definately within your size range.
Described (I've not seen one), sometimes, as having a 'reddish' band on the underside.
I dunno. In the right light even reddish-brown can look quite spectacular.
If you are prepared to consider escapees from collections there a few alien varieties which might fit the bill too.
We've got a lot of Red Kites around here, driving up north the other week the kids counted 30. Beautiful birds, it's a pleasure driving about and knowing that I'm going to see a bird of prey, if it's not a kite it's a Buzzard
There are loads of them where I live, I think about 20 breading pairs. Keep an eye out if around junction 6 of the M40.
Tony said:
Sorry to interupt all:
Tony,
Please delete some PM's or provide an email address so we/I can contact you. I'ts important.
Regards,
Ryan
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