A compact Red Kite....NE.London. (1 Viewer)

KenM

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #1

This morning a rather ''compact'' dark looking Red Kite (believe the tail is too forked for Black), flew over, not much bigger than the accompanying Herring Gulls. Thought these images might be of interest? regarding size and tonal value, I've not seen one this small or dark before.

Cheers

 

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M

mark clements

New member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #2

Out on a limb, I would shout Red for this one.
but I have been wrong before.
H

 

foresttwitcher

Virtually unknown member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #3

Yes, Red Kite & no size issue: wing span 140-165cm; Herring Gull 123-148cm.

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #4

so quite normal sized and colored....

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #5

Joern Lehmhus said:

so quite normal sized and colored....

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...Looked compact and smaller to me, compared to the Kites I see locally, which normally don’t appear till late March, granted I don’t see that many...perhaps 3-4 per annum locally, didn’t look particularly bright either, thus assumed it was an immature towards the smaller end of the spectrum.

 

S

stevethehydra

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #6

Looks fine for Red Kite to me too, I have seen them soaring among gulls in Leeds and the size comparison to HG looks quite normal.

 

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Feb 19, 2019

• #7

Is it maybe because we assume Buzzards to be bigger than Herring Gulls (so a Red Kite should appear even bigger), but actually they aren't particularly (in wingspan at least).

An interesting observation today - saw a white and a dark Feral Pigeon together in flight - the white appeared tiny, even though they were approx the same size.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #8

dantheman said:

Is it maybe because we assume Buzzards to be bigger than Herring Gulls (so a Red Kite should appear even bigger), but actually they aren't particularly (in wingspan at least).

An interesting observation today - saw a white and a dark Feral Pigeon together in flight - the white appeared tiny, even though they were approx the same size.

Click to expand...

Normally pale colours make things look bigger...so the wife says. :eek!:

stevethehydra said:

Looks fine for Red Kite to me too, I have seen them soaring among gulls in Leeds and the size comparison to HG looks quite normal.

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To date apart from the gulls today, I’ve only seen Red Kite soaring with Corvid, Buzzard and once with Goshawk, and to my eye they always seemed Bigger, ie much longer winged, whether this was actual RK size differential or the birds at “full stretch” I can’t say.

 

RafaelMatias

Unknown member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #9

KenM said:

Normally pale colours make things look bigger...so the wife says. :eek!:

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It entirely depends on the background colour. Dan's pigeons were probably seen against a pale background.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Feb 19, 2019

• #10

KenM said:

Normally pale colours make things look bigger...so the wife says. :eek!:

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I assume she meant your arse...........

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Feb 19, 2019

• #11

andyadcock said:

I assume she meant your arse...........

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I think butt might have been more appropriate....cock!