Red Kites at Telford, Shropshire???

[PaulAshton]

A friend of mine has reported to me that on more than one occasion he has watched Red Kites on the edge of Telford.

He's never struck me as being bonkers and does know a kite from a buzzard.

Can anyone shed light on this?????

:h?:

[Jess2002]

Apprently theres been a few seen over keele in Newcastle under lyme (not a million miles away). I dont live too far away from telford, in stoke-on-trent in fact and i've heard of a few sightings of red kites not too far away! Red kites are getting more and more regularly seen in england, and are apparently regularly seen along the M40 of all places! Never say never.. :)

[MOOSE]

Red Kites are regularly seen in Shropshire and they are said to be resident in the county.
I saw a single Red Kite in April flying over Craven Arms in Shropshire. Very close to Telford as the Kite flies

[helenol]

Red kites are getting more and more regularly seen in england, and are apparently regularly seen along the M40 of all places! Never say never.. :)
Hi Jess, the reason for so many sightings along the M40 on the Oxon/Bucks border is that they were released here during a re-introduction programme that began in 1989.

As of last year, there were 177 breeding pairs in the Chilterns.

Regards

[marylou Lentz]

I joined this site just to ask about the kites. We were on vacation from the US and saw a pair. Just knew that's what they were, but the guidebooks said only in Wales. Thanks so much!

[helenol]

Hi marylou and welcome to Birdforum.net

Glad we could be of some assistance so soon!

Regards

[Stuart]

Did he say where abouts he saw it ??

They do get reported very occasionally in Shropshire, but not normally around Telford itself, normally more in the hills, to the west of the county..

Stuart

[PaulAshton]

Did he say where abouts he saw it ??

They do get reported very occasionally in Shropshire, but not normally around Telford itself, normally more in the hills, to the west of the county..

Stuart

I'll find out and investigate...

Who knows maybe they may be setting up territories in Telford.

[Jess2002]

thanks helenlol, I never realised they were released. I travelled down the M40 on a trip to Warwick castle, i cant count the amount of times i nearly crashed due to the permanant head turning to investigate every raptor (generally buzzards) that i saw! unfortunatly none were red kites :( Also the bird seen at keele was apparently seen drifting over the M6, making anybody stuck in a traffic jam very happy ;)

[Stephen Dunstan]

thanks helenlol, I never realised they were released. I travelled down the M40 on a trip to Warwick castle, i cant count the amount of times i nearly crashed due to the permanant head turning to investigate every raptor (generally buzzards) that i saw! unfortunatly none were red kites :( Also the bird seen at keele was apparently seen drifting over the M6, making anybody stuck in a traffic jam very happy ;)

Jess,

You must have been very unlucky, I always used to see several Red Kites when I went down the M40 on business but I never saw many Buzzards.

Stephen.

[helenol]

Jess,

You must have been very unlucky, I always used to see several Red Kites when I went down the M40 on business but I never saw many Buzzards.

Stephen.
Hi Stephen, the buzzards seem to be doing very well in this area of late, probably benefiting from the lack of persecution of the red kites.

[helenol]

thanks helenlol, I never realised they were released. I travelled down the M40 on a trip to Warwick castle, i cant count the amount of times i nearly crashed due to the permanant head turning to investigate every raptor (generally buzzards) that i ;)
Yes, the amount of bad driving that goes on between a few junctions of theM40 is nobodys business :D

[Chris Monk]

You can find last year's breeding figures at:

http://www.gigrin.co.uk/w/index.htm

[Chris Monk]

Red Kite nest web cam

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/redkite/default.asp

[Corvid]

My father has seen red kites over woodland near to Baldwin's Gate in Staffs, near to the Shropshire Border on a couple of occasions.

[Reader]

thanks helenlol, I never realised they were released. I travelled down the M40 on a trip to Warwick castle, i cant count the amount of times i nearly crashed due to the permanant head turning to investigate every raptor (generally buzzards) that i saw! unfortunatly none were red kites :( Also the bird seen at keele was apparently seen drifting over the M6, making anybody stuck in a traffic jam very happy ;)

Hi Jess

If you are hoping for Red Kites that far north up the M40 you will more than likely end up disappointed. You normally start seeing them on the approach to Junction 5 (Stokenchurch). The release site is in that area.

[helenol]

There have now been sightings of red kites in Reading, Maidenhead, Hitchen and Watford. The Chilterns kites are gradually spreading further afield.