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
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.
I to live in the Chilterns I still love watching them especially when someone close by is feeding them.
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!
Wonderful to see that they have been re-introduced so successfully. Shame we don't have any round here
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
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)
There are lots of these fantastic birds here in Myddfai (Carmarthenshire). They have a very distinctive cry when circling overhead don't they?
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?
We had one Red Kite here and it go electrocuted apparently on a transformer. Haven't seen any since in this area, West Midlands.
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
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?
IF i EVER THINK OF RED KITES i ALWAYS THINK. OF THE m4 .THERE .ARE ALWAYS KITES NEAR.THERE GREAT BIRDS
If you're ever in The Chilterns around Iving Hoe Beacon, you'll be hard pushed not to spot a red kite.
