[appletreejohn]

Hi everyone. I'm pretty new to birding so please bear with me?
Can anyone please help..
Coming back into London down the M40 yesterday, between J5 and J4 I saw at least 20 birds which I'm fairly sure were Red Kites.
I thought you could only see these in any numbers in Wales.
Whatever they were they were beautiful! Was I wrong?
Also I'd just like to say what a fantastic site this is and thanks to all for your brilliant pictures!

[nigelblake]

You are not mistaken as this area is a stronghold for Red Kites that have been released as part of a reintroduction program.

[appletreejohn]

Thanks, Nigel. A lovely bird!

[Pedro vanman]

John
If you look round this and other birding sites (for example www.gigrin.co.uk or www.kitecountry.co.uk) you will find that red kites are slowly being reintroduced in various places around the country. I think they are absolutely magnificent.
Regards
Peter

[Sonia]

I'm lucky enough to travel around the area you mention (Watlington way) and quite often see these wonderful birds. It's amazing the way they manoevre(?).

I was travelling on a back road recently and saw a single Red Kite just before it disappeared behind a high farmyard wall. That had to be my closest sighting. Unfortunately, I was so blown away by it, I had to apologize to the chap in the car behind as my car driving skills went to pot! Luckily he was a better driver than me.

I've noticed quite a few red kites around the Henley and Bix nature reserve and even had one over our house in Reading. They seem to be going from strength to strength and I am really glad (and not just because they are one of the few birds I can readily identify without having to check in my book!)

Sonia

[helenol]

We have a regular visitor here in High Wycombe (sometimes 2 of them). In fact one came into my garden not long ago to pick up a dead juvenile starling that dropped from a great height onto my patio! I never did figure out how the starling got there, unless a sparrowhawk picked it up from the roof and dropped it...

The kites are a regular feature around the M40 corridor, especially near the Stokenchurch exit.

Regards
Helen

[Pedro vanman]

If you have a wander round anywhere between Henley,Nettlebed,Stonor and Lane End you can almost guarantee to see Red kites about somewhere and at fairly close quarters too.With the sun on them highlighting their colouration as they effortlessly glide/soar about they are so magnificent.I have actually seen a pair of kites along the A338 just south of Wantage and one above the A4074 northwest of Reading.I've also seen a pair circling above Thame town centre.
Happy kite watching
Peter

[appletreejohn]

Pedro, by pure coincidence, I have an episode of Porridge on the TV behind me. Apologies to anyone who doesn't get that reference!
Thank you all for your replies - I work in that area now and then and will be keeping 'em peeled.

[PaulAshton]

I also had my surprise first view of a Red Kite on the M40 (5 years ago).

A 15 minute diversion from your motorway journey will give you close views as follows:

If you leave the M40 at junction 5 and follow the minor road (off the A40 north of Stokenchurch) south West towards Christmas Common stopping at Cowleaze Wood (it has a car park) you can view red Kites from the north eastern point of the woods (while resting on a fallen oak) overlooking the valley beyond. Follow the public footpath through the wood and stop where the wood ends and the fields begin.

The red Kites will arrive shortly. While you're there you may spot Fallow deer and Red Deer in the valley below.

My second view of a Red Kite was from a hotel window in Thame after a long day at a conference.

[birdman]

Thanks for the information, Paul, and as I am going to be taking another trip into M40-land soon, I may well follow these directions.

I notice this is you first post on the site, so on behalf of all the Moderators and Admin, may I wish you a warm welcome to BirdForum.

I hope you'll spend plenty of time with us, and give us the benefit of more gems like this.

I am sure you will be repaid many times over!

[jayhunter]

Nice one Birdman well spotted, I now know where I am missing out I turn off the M40 at the A34 turn off on my way down to Hampshire. Should stay on for a few more junctions and try to cut across to the M3.

[Woundsinger]

I have just come back from my holiday down on the south coast..
Whilst there I mainly watched the sea...A fellow birder I had started talking to told me of Red Kites being seen round the area of Warsash.I was not lucky enough to catch sight of any though.

I nearly caused a crash though thanks to a low flying buzzard...
It literally flew in front of the car from a tree on the verge of the road...It flew so close I could feel the updraft from the wings I swear it..
I couldn't believe my eyes and let out a few choice words rather loudly... shocking the living daylights out of my brother in law..
And who said birding was a safe hobby?
LOL
Saw my first Dartford Warbler as well!!!! That really set my heart racing.
When I get round to it I will put the abridged report up for people to read..

[Viv]

I have to agree, these are beautiful birds. Last month I had a weekend in Wales with an old schoolfriend and went to the Forestry Commission site at Nant y Arian where they feed them every day. There most have been 30 - 40 birds, including an albino, swooping for their food! Absolutely fantastic.

[esmondb]

Originally posted by PaulAshton
If you leave the M40 at junction 5 and follow the minor road (off the A40 north of Stokenchurch) south West towards Christmas Common stopping at Cowleaze Wood (it has a car park) you can view red Kites from the north eastern point of the woods (while resting on a fallen oak) overlooking the valley beyond. Follow the public footpath through the wood and stop where the wood ends and the fields begin.

I was sat on that very same tree on Saturday. A very good morning's viewing of kites was had, followed by a sparrowhawk family with what looked like mum coming home with a KFC bargain bucket (woodpigeon).
Cowleaze is supposedly good for crossbills as well.

[esmondb]

Just so you can see how close views of the red kites you can get at Cowleaze, here's one from Saturday (taken with a 200mm lens)

[PaulAshton]

They do get rather close.

When I was there the first time, I was on more than one occasion followed by Red Kites for a few minutes as I and friends walked through the woods and fields.

In the first instance a pair circled above us at the tree line while we walked a woodland path and the second time an individual bird initially a spec in the sky, flew across to us, circled us, made a few calls and then flew off.

Is this perhaps part of their scavenging nature following for tit bits and also one reason why they were so easily nearlly wiped out once bullets started flying up at them.

[Grousemore]

Nice shot,Esmond.
Definitely a site to check out next time i'm in that location.

[Chris Monk]

For more information you can download this pdf of an English Nature colour booklet on the reintroduction of the Rd Kite:

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pub...DF/Redkite.pdf

Try this Welsh Red Kite Trust web site at:

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