Red Kites - South East England?
Discussion
Almost wiped out in the mid/late 20th Century (10 pairs left, I think??) & reintroduced only in 1989 via a relatively small number of birds from Sweden (93?):
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/disc...
We have a large family group in our village in Northamptonshire - spectacular creatures & an amazingly successful re-introduction. There is some controversy over the programme though: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15259977. Some groups think the public have been mis-sold on the idea that they are primarily carrions feeders, when they might not be. I'm a fan though: amazing to hear & see something cruising over the house, that didn't really exist when I was a kid.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/disc...
We have a large family group in our village in Northamptonshire - spectacular creatures & an amazingly successful re-introduction. There is some controversy over the programme though: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15259977. Some groups think the public have been mis-sold on the idea that they are primarily carrions feeders, when they might not be. I'm a fan though: amazing to hear & see something cruising over the house, that didn't really exist when I was a kid.
Saw loads today around Binfield, Berkshire, wheeling above the unrestricted roads, hitching a free ride on the thermals generated by passing cars, keeping an eye out for the odd bit of road kill, and occasionally settling on a roof or TV aerial. They are *big* birds at close quarters.
Reading University open day today, and the Zoology department professor was talking about Red Kites in his presentation to prospective students and their parents.
In Reading they have up to 80 individuals, apparently. They also appear to be common. But the prof said there are still only about 2,000 pairs in the UK.
Because they are carrion birds, and direct competitors with crows (or corvids generally), we see a disproportionately large proportion of the Kite population, as they have a close relationship with us humans, feeding opportunistically on our rubbish, and road kill. So we tend to see a lot of them, and presume that they are widespread, but we are seeing relatively few animals many times because they fly close to the same transport corridors and urban centres as we drive down and live in.
I've seen them further south year-on-year over the last 5 or so years. It used to be that I'd only ever seen them around the Chilterns and the M40 corridor, but now, as others have said, they're quite a common sight south of Basingstoke. There was a nesting pair in Windsor Great Park this year, barely a few metres from the village within the park boundary. And another pair nesting about a hundred metres from Nuffield Place/HMP Huntercombe in Oxfordshire, just west of Henley-on-Thames. They're very 'vocal' birds (you don't need to be stealthy to hunt road-kill
) and hugely impressive to watch as they go about their business.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/disc...
In Reading they have up to 80 individuals, apparently. They also appear to be common. But the prof said there are still only about 2,000 pairs in the UK.
Because they are carrion birds, and direct competitors with crows (or corvids generally), we see a disproportionately large proportion of the Kite population, as they have a close relationship with us humans, feeding opportunistically on our rubbish, and road kill. So we tend to see a lot of them, and presume that they are widespread, but we are seeing relatively few animals many times because they fly close to the same transport corridors and urban centres as we drive down and live in.
I've seen them further south year-on-year over the last 5 or so years. It used to be that I'd only ever seen them around the Chilterns and the M40 corridor, but now, as others have said, they're quite a common sight south of Basingstoke. There was a nesting pair in Windsor Great Park this year, barely a few metres from the village within the park boundary. And another pair nesting about a hundred metres from Nuffield Place/HMP Huntercombe in Oxfordshire, just west of Henley-on-Thames. They're very 'vocal' birds (you don't need to be stealthy to hunt road-kill
) and hugely impressive to watch as they go about their business.http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/disc...
Edited by yellowjack on Sunday 4th October 03:35
Gargamel said:
Nothing wrong with you.
There is a very large Red Kite Population centered around the Chilterns in Oxfordshire, however they have been spreading out over the last five years, I see them regularly in South Surrey now (nr Farnham) and I have seen them all across the north and south downs on occasions.
I saw one over the Hogsback yesterday. There is a very large Red Kite Population centered around the Chilterns in Oxfordshire, however they have been spreading out over the last five years, I see them regularly in South Surrey now (nr Farnham) and I have seen them all across the north and south downs on occasions.
NorthernSky said:
... probably feeding on a mix of roadkill and Charlies/Dennis Kebab meat left over at 3am in the town centre of Wycombe.
Lots of Red Kites in the South Bucks area. My parents live in Marlow and a group of 3-4 kites have become accustom to my Mum feeding them. If the kites are perched in the surrounding trees and spot her popping out into the garden, they call. If my Mum leaves food out for them (usually chunks of meat!), they will swoop down into the garden and be off with it ...
It's become such a regular thing now, the kites will down swoop down whilst my Mum is standing metres from the food! Amazing to watch.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff