Red Kite over Rainham

[Andy Ledger]

Not, Rainham in Essex, btw, Rainham in Kent.

I was sitting in the garden yesterday, relaxing after a day at work (Sunday - not a common occurrence these days) when herself said "Is that a Kestrel?"

All I could see was a Collared Dove on the TV aerial of the house next door, so I shifted my position and nearly fell off my chair. It quite obviously wasn't a Kestrel, or a Sparrowhawk (likely) or a Buzzard (not so likely, but not impossible). I rapidly legged it indoors for some bins, and came back out, by which time it was directly above the garden. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever had goosebumps looking at a bird from my garden before, but this was a first. It took a while to sink in....in fact, I don't think it will ever quite sink in! We went on holiday to Scotland last month, and I saw Red Kites there. That was good, but this was great!

[John Cantelo]

Were the wings a little ragged? I had one over Grove/Stodmarsh this afternoon (i.e. Monday) at 13:00 - 13:05 which seemed to be in wing moult. I wonder if it was the same bird. Before anyone else points it out, a Black Kite was reported at Grove/Stodmarsh at exactly the same time, but the bird I was watching was certainly a Red Kite. For the record I've seen several hundred Black Kites this spring and know what I'm looking at! Is this the start of another 'silly season' for Black Kite in the Stour valley?
I hope not, John

[david2004]

WOW! Well done! I live in Kent, I wonder if it will visit me next! LOL.

[Andy Ledger]

Were the wings a little ragged? I had one over Grove/Stodmarsh this afternoon (i.e. Monday) at 13:00 - 13:05 which seemed to be in wing moult. I wonder if it was the same bird.

Funny you should mention that; yes, they were.

[Keithec]

Were the wings a little ragged? I had one over Grove/Stodmarsh this afternoon (i.e. Monday) at 13:00 - 13:05 which seemed to be in wing moult. I wonder if it was the same bird. Before anyone else points it out, a Black Kite was reported at Grove/Stodmarsh at exactly the same time, but the bird I was watching was certainly a Red Kite. For the record I've seen several hundred Black Kites this spring and know what I'm looking at! Is this the start of another 'silly season' for Black Kite in the Stour valley?
I hope not, John

Interesting that you should mention black kite. I was on the Somerset Levels at the weekend and was told by some one that a black kite had been seen there earlier in the day. I was doubtful about this but do you think it is a possibility?

Keith

[Ben Rackstraw]

Hmm...Interesting.

We were out on the South Downs N of Brighton on Sunday afternoon (well to the E of where Red Kites are usually seen in Sussex). While having a look round a wooded vale at about 1600hrs, I saw a Kite sp. fly over in a N direction. To me the tail fork looked much too deep for Black Kite, but I couldn't make out any plumage colouration or patterning in the view I had. The bird was in heavy secondary moult.

A Black Kite was reported NW of Bexhill around midday on Sunday, and this was said to have flown off in a NE direction.

Fairly sure what I saw was a RK - may be the same bird that others of you have seen & where it has come from is anyone's guess. But the BK report had me wishing that this encounter had taken place half an hour earlier when I would have been up on the ridge overlooking the woods, rather than in the woods looking through gaps in the canopy!

Cheers,

Ben

[salty]

well done on your sighting. they do tend to stop you in your tracks, magnificent birds.

there is a site in gateshead that they frequent (barlow fell) and on some days you look up the road and just see cars stopped right in the middle of the very narrow road, causing chaos, as people try and get a peek! - they are very special birds, that even non-birders stop and stare - you cant help it.

[John Cantelo]

Interesting! It sounds like it was the same bird over Grove. As for the likelihood of there being a Black Kite over the Somerset levels, it would be unwise to discount the possibility. However, the frequency with which BKs are reported in prime Marsh Harrier locations (a notorious confusion species) persuades me that a percentage of such records are errors. Maybe, though, that's more to do with the fact I've never seen the species in the UK! John

[Woody]

Not, Rainham in Essex, btw, Rainham in Kent.

I was sitting in the garden yesterday, relaxing after a day at work (Sunday - not a common occurrence these days) when herself said "Is that a Kestrel?"

All I could see was a Collared Dove on the TV aerial of the house next door, so I shifted my position and nearly fell off my chair. It quite obviously wasn't a Kestrel, or a Sparrowhawk (likely) or a Buzzard (not so likely, but not impossible). I rapidly legged it indoors for some bins, and came back out, by which time it was directly above the garden. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever had goosebumps looking at a bird from my garden before, but this was a first. It took a while to sink in....in fact, I don't think it will ever quite sink in! We went on holiday to Scotland last month, and I saw Red Kites there. That was good, but this was great!

I have been told twice of a site where red kites are nesting in Kent- about 20 mins drive away from us in Rainham at a plce where I go regularly. I've not seen the birds myself but perhaps you spotted one of them? I was in Shropshire over the weekend or perhaps I would have seen it too!? I'll have to make do with the accident causing birds over the M40.

Woody

[John Cantelo]

I'd suggest caution over speculation about kites nesting anywhere in UK away from 'known' sites. In the meantime I gather a Red Kite with missing wing feathers was also seen over Oare recently. It seems like it's having a good tour of the county! John