Red Kites

Discussion in 'Pets Corner' started by Mollly, Jan 13, 2016.

  1. Mollly

    Mollly Registered Users

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    Certainly not a pet.

    I live in The Chilterns/Thames Valley (if you watch Midsommer Murders you have seen where I live)

    Red Kites were released in this area about 25 years ago. They have been very successful and now it is rare to look up an not see several of these magnificent birds overhead.

    Now is the time to see them in their full glory. As they swoop and turn in the sunlight their plummage is a deep, rich red.

    There was a time when we all looked up in admiration when we saw a Red Kite, now thjey are so commonplace that if we see someone gazing up at the sky we know they are a visitor:)
     
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  2. Hollysdad

    Hollysdad Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Beautiful birds. I sometimes have to drive through mid Wales where they're really common. There is even a "red kite feeding area" where the tourists can come and see them being hand fed.
     
  3. Helen

    Helen Registered Users

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    I to live in the Chilterns I still love watching them especially when someone close by is feeding them.
     
  4. Karen

    Karen Registered Users

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    We get them here in Germany a lot in the summer, but don't see them in the winter so much. I think they are migrants who don't like the cold weather, so they fly south during the winter. Interesting that yours are resident over the whole winter!
     
  5. MaccieD

    MaccieD Guest

    Wonderful to see that they have been re-introduced so successfully. Shame we don't have any round here
     
  6. edzbird

    edzbird Registered Users

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    What a lovely sight - you're very lucky. We don't have any here.
     
  7. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    We have lots of them in Hampshire in the Summer. During the Summer months I see them every day during my walk they, are so beautiful to watch when they are flying low and hovering x :)
     
  8. Diana

    Diana Registered Users

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    They are beautiful birds, we had two flying by our kitchen window a while ago. They have also been seen up by the top lane, we felt honoured to see them.
    (we live in Pembrokeshire)
     
  9. UncleBob

    UncleBob Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    There are lots of these fantastic birds here in Myddfai (Carmarthenshire). They have a very distinctive cry when circling overhead don't they?
     
  10. SwampDonkey

    SwampDonkey Registered Users

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    I've seen a raptor I don't recognise and I 've seen it a few times its got a blue slate grey back and is like a small falcon. At first I though male sparrow hawk maybe but its too small and def not a kestral. It was flying about 3 foot above a pavement on a road near to me I've seen it a few times now trying to scare up small birds from the hedges. keep thinking Hobby but just not sure. Its too small for a peregrine and not the right colour and its got no jesses so its not an escapee. any ideas?
     
  11. Beanwood

    Beanwood Registered Users

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    Do you think it could've been a Merlin? Not commonplace, but small with light blue/slate wings.
     
  12. Stacia

    Stacia Registered Users

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    We had one Red Kite here and it go electrocuted apparently on a transformer. Haven't seen any since in this area, West Midlands.
     
  13. SwampDonkey

    SwampDonkey Registered Users

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    could be its small enough I saw it before about 4 years ago it could be just passing through i don't think its nesting. We do get some strange visitors sometimes
     
  14. Hollysdad

    Hollysdad Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    We recently had a break in mid Wales. There were kites everywhere, sometimes in pairs or small flocks. It was wonderful.

    On the way to Heathrow last week I think I saw two beside the M4 near Reading. Has anyone else seen them in that area?
     
  15. Sacha012

    Sacha012 Registered Users

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    IF i EVER THINK OF RED KITES i ALWAYS THINK. OF THE m4 .THERE .ARE ALWAYS KITES NEAR.THERE GREAT BIRDS
     
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  16. Hollysdad

    Hollysdad Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Ive seen some around M4 J11, and a few on the M40
     
  17. Branston1080

    Branston1080 Registered Users

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    If you're ever in The Chilterns around Iving Hoe Beacon, you'll be hard pushed not to spot a red kite.
     

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