Red Kite between Swindon & Marlborough

[Steve B]

I have seen Red Kites many times before, usually in Wales and occasionally in Oxfordshire, but this morning I saw the first one I can remember seeing in Wiltshire. It was circling over the Ridgeway south of Swindon and being tracked closely for quite a time by a Buzzard who clearly wasn't happy to see it around.

[Nick Tanner]

My guess is that they are probably regular there, you just have not seen them, bet that loads of Wilts birders post their sightings

Nick

[davercox]

You may be right Nick, but the 2006 RBBP report (published last month in 'British Birds') says "Wiltshire two pairs bred, one fledging two young, two pairs probably bred and one pair possibly bred".

[wilfredsdad]

Hi, I saw one yesterday - 6th July - as I came off the M4 at the Wootton Bassett jnctn. There's a layby there just as you come off the big r'bout and I stopped and was able to watch it for about 2 minutes as it rode up on a thermal, it then peeled off and cruised down towards the beginning of the chalk by Lyneham. I think Nick is probably right - there's probably quite a few around here and people will start reporting them; wonder who's going to post the first photo of a Wilts Red Kite? regards Pete

[gareth_blockley]

One of my friend's works for the MOD and said he saw one the other day.

Gareth